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UNCLE  REMUS 

His  Songs  and  His  Sayings 


By  JOEL  CHANDLER  HARRIS 


UNCLE  REMUS:  HIS  SONGS  AND 
HIS  SAYINGS. 

Library  Edition.  12mo.  Illustrated  by 
A.  B.  Frost. 

Gift  Edition.  Square  8vo.  Illustrated 
by  A.  B.  Frost  and  E.  W.  Kemble. 

ON  THE  PLANTATION. 

Illustrated. 

DADDY  JAKE. 
Illustrated. 


UNCLE  REMUS 


TRADE  MARK,   REO.   U.   S.   PAT.   OFFICE 


His  Songs  and  His  Sayings 


BY 


JOEL  CHANDLER  HARRIS 

New  and  Revised  Edition 


WITH  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWELVE 
ILLUSTRATIONS  BY 

A.  B.  FROST 


HAWTHORN  BOOKS,  INC. 

PUBLISHERS  /New  York 

A  Howard  £r  Wyndham  Company 


« 

16313 


UNCLE  REMUS 

Copyright  ©  1921,  1908,  by  Esther  La  Rose  Harris.  Copyright  © 
1895,  1880,  by  D.  Appleton  and  Company.  Copyright  under  Inter 
national  and  Pan-American  Copyright  Conventions.  All  rights  re 
served,  including  the  right  to  reproduce  this  book,  or  portions 
thereof,  in  any  form,  except  for  the  inclusion  of  brief  quotations  in 
a  review.  All  inquiries  should  be  addressed  to  Hawthorn  Books, 
Inc.,  260  Madison  Avenue,  New  York,  New  York  10016.  This  book 
was  manufactured  in  the  United  States  of  America. 

ISBN:   0-8015-8106-0 
96  97  98  99  100 


PREFACE  AND  DEDICATION 
TO  THE  NEW  EDITION 


To  Arthur  Burdette  Frost: 

MY  DEAR  FROST:  I  am  expected  to  supply  a  preface 
for  this  new  edition  of  my  first  book— to  advance  from 
behind  the  curtain,  as  it  were,  and  make  a  fresh  bow 
to  the  public  that  has  dealt  with  Uncle  Remus  in  so 
gentle  and  generous  a  fashion.  For  this  event  the 
lights  are  to  be  rekindled,  and  I  am  expected  to 
respond  in  some  formal  way  to  an  encore  that  marks 
the  fifteenth  anniversary  of  the  book.  There  have 
been  other  editions— how  many  I  do  not  remember- 
but  this  is  to  be  an  entirely  new  one,  except  as  to  the 
matter:  new  type,  new  pictures,  and  new  binding. 

But,  as  frequently  happens  on  such  occasions,  I 
am  at  a  loss  for  a  word.  I  seem  to  see  before  me  the 
smiling  faces  of  thousands  of  children— some  young 
and  fresh,  and  some  wearing  the  friendly  marks  of 
age,  but  all  children  at  heart— and  not  an  unfriendly 
face  among  them.  And  out  of  the  confusion,  and 

iii 
HI  QOQQ 


iv  PREFACE   AND   DEDICATION 

while  I  am  trying  hard  to  speak  the  right  word>  1 
seem  to  hear  a  voice  lifted  above  the  rest,  saying: 
"You  have  made  some  of  us  happy."  And  so  I  feel  my 
heart  fluttering  and  my  lips  trembling,  and  I  have  to 
bow  silently  and  turn  away,  and  hurry  back  into  the 
obscurity  that  fits  me  best. 

Phantoms!  Children  of  dreams!  True,  my  dear 
Frost;  but  if  you  could  see  the  thousands  of  letters 
that  have  come  to  me  from  far  and  near,  and  all  fresh 
from  the  hearts  and  hands  of  children,  and  from  men 
and  women  who  have  not  forgotten  how  to  be  chil 
dren,  you  would  not  wonder  at  the  dream.  And  such 
a  dream  can  do  no  harm.  Insubstantial  though  it  may 
be,  I  would  not  at  this  hour  exchange  it  for  all  the 
fame  won  by  my  mightier  brethren  of  the  pen— whom 
I  most  humbly  salute. 

Measured  by  the  material  developments  that  have 
compressed  years  of  experience  into  the  space  of  a 
day,  thus  increasing  the  possibilities  of  life,  if  not  its 
beauty,  fifteen  years  constitute  the  old  age  of  a  book. 
Such  a  survival  might  almost  be  said  to  be  due  to  a 
tiny  sluice  of  green  sap  under  the  gray  bark.  Where  it 
lies  in  the  matter  of  this  book,  or  what  its  source— if, 
indeed,  it  be  really  there— is  more  of  a  mystery  to  my 
middle  age  than  it  was  to  my  prime. 

But  it  would  be  no  mystery  at  all  if  this  new 
edition  were  to  be  more  popular  than  the  old  one.  Do 
you  know  why?  Because  you  have  taken  it  under 


PREFACE  AND  DEDICATION  V 

your  hand  and  made  it  yours.  Because  you  have 
breathed  the  breath  of  life  into  these  amiable  breth 
ren  of  wood  and  field.  Because,  by  a  stroke  here  and 
a  touch  there,  you  have  conveyed  into  their  quaint 
antics  the  illumination  of  your  own  inimitable  humor, 
which  is  as  true  to  our  sun  and  soil  as  it  is  to  the 
spirit  and  essence  of  the  matter  set  forth. 

The  book  was  mine,  but  now  you  have  made  it 
yours,  both  sap  and  pith.  Take  it,  therefore,  my  dear 
Frost,  and  believe  me,  faithfully  yours, 

JOEP  CHANDLER  HARRIS. 


INTRODUCTION 


I  AM  advised  by  my  publishers  that  this  book  is  to 
be  included  in  their  catalogue  of  humorous  publica 
tions,  and  this  friendly  warning  gives  me  an  oppor 
tunity  to  say  that  however  humorous  it  may  be  in 
effect,  its  intention  is  perfectly  serious;  and,  even  if  it 
were  otherwise,  it  seems  to  me  that  a  volume  written 
wholly  in  dialect  must  have  its  solemn,  not  to  say 
melancholy,  features.  With  respect  to  the  Folk-Lore 
series,  my  purpose  has  been  to  preserve  the  legends 
themselves  in  their  original  simplicity,  and  to  wed 
them  permanently  to  the  quaint  dialect— if,  indeed,  it 
can  be  called  a  dialect— through  the  medium  of  which 
they  have  become  a  part  of  the  domestic  history  of 
every  Southern  family;  and  I  have  endeavored  to 
give  to  the  whole  a  genuine  flavor  of  the  old  planta 
tion. 

Each  legend  has  its  variants,  but  in  every  instance 
I  have  retained  that  particular  version  which  seemed 
to  me  to  be  the  most  characteristic,  and  have  given  it 
without  embellishment  and  without  exaggeration. 

vii 


Viii  INTRODUCTION 

The  dialect,  it  will  be  observed,  is  wholly  different 
from  that  of  the  Hon.  Pompey  Smash  and  his  literary 
descendants,  and  different  also  from  the  intolerable 
misrepresentations  of  the  minstrel  stage,  but  it  is  at 
least  phonetically  genuine.  Nevertheless,  if  the  lan 
guage  of  Uncle  Remus  fails  to  give  vivid  hints  of  the 
really  poetic  imagination  of  the  Negro;  if  it  fails  to 
embody  the  quaint  and  homely  humor  which  was  his 
most  prominent  characteristic;  if  it  does  not  suggest  a 
certain  picturesque  sensitiveness— a  curious  exaltation 
of  mind  and  temperament  not  to  be  defined  by  words 
—then  I  have  reproduced  the  form  of  the  dialect 
merely,  and  not  the  essence,  and  my  attempt  may  be 
accounted  a  failure.  At  any  rate,  I  trust  I  have  been 
successful  in  presenting  what  must  be,  at  least  to  a 
large  portion  of  American  readers,  a  new  and  by  no 
means  unattractive  phase  of  Negro  character— a  phase 
which  may  be  considered  a  curiously  sympathetic 
supplement  to  Mrs.  Stowe's  wonderful  defense  of 
slavery  as  it  existed  in  the  South.  Mrs.  Stowe,  let  me 
hasten  to  say,  attacked  the  possibilities  of  slavery 
with  all  the  eloquence  of  genius;  but  the  same  genius 
painted  the  portrait  of  the  Southern  slave-owner,  and 
defended  him. 

A  number  of  the  plantation  legends  originally  ap 
peared  in  the  columns  of  a  daily  newspaper— The  At 
lanta  Constitution— and  in  that  shape  they  attracted 
the  attention  of  various  gentlemen  who  were  kind 


INTRODUCTION 


enough  to  suggest  that  they  would  prove  to  be  valu 
able  contributions  to  myth-literature.  It  is  but  fair  to 
say  that  ethnological  considerations  formed  no  part 
of  the  undertaking  which  has  resulted  in  the  pub 
lication  of  this  volume.  Professor  J.  W.  Powell,  of  the 
Smithsonian  Institution,  who  is  engaged  in  an  inves 
tigation  of  the  mythology  of  the  North  American  In 
dians,  informs  me  that  some  of  Uncle  Remus's  stories 
appear  in  a  number  of  different  languages,  and  in 
various  modified  forms,  among  the  Indians;  and  he  is 
of  the  opinion  that  they  are  borrowed  by  the  Negroes 
from  the  red-men.  But  this,  to  say  the  least,  is  ex 
tremely  doubtful,  since  another  investigator  (Mr. 
Herbert  H.  Smith,  author  of  Brazil  and  the  Amazons ) 
has  met  with  some  of  these  stories  among  tribes  of 
South  American  Indians,  and  one  in  particular  he 
has  traced  to  India,  and  as  far  east  as  Siam.  Mr.  Smith 
has  been  kind  enough  to  send  me  the  proof-sheets  o$ 
his  chapter  on  The  Myths  and  Folk-Lore  of  the 
Amazonian  Indians,  in  which  he  reproduces  some  of 
the  stories  which  he  gathered  while  exploring  the 
Amazons. 

In  the  first  of  his  series,  a  tortoise  falls  from  a  tree 
upon  the  head  of  a  jaguar  and  kills  him;  in  one  of 
Uncle  Remus's  stories,  the  terrapin  falls  from  a  shelf 
in  Miss  Meadows's  house  and  stuns  the  fox,  so  that  the 
latter  fails  to  catch  the  rabbit.  In  the  next,  a  jaguar 
catches  a  tortoise  by  the  hind-leg  as  he  is  disappear- 


X  INTRODUCTION 

ing  in  his  hole;  but  the  tortoise  convinces  him  he  is 
holding  a  root,  and  so  escapes;  Uncle  Remus  tells 
how  the  fox  endeavored  to  drown  the  terrapin,  but 
turned  him  loose  because  the  terrapin  declared  his 
tail  to  be  only  a  stump-root.  Mr.  Smith  also  gives  the 
story  of  how  the  tortoise  outran  the  deer,  which  is 
identical  as  to  incident  with  Uncle  Remus's  story  of 
how  Brer  Tarrypin  outran  Brer  Rabbit.  Then  there  is 
the  story  of  how  the  tortoise  pretended  that  he  was 
stronger  than  the  tapir.  He  tells  the  latter  he  can  drag 
him  into  the  sea,  but  the  tapir  retorts  that  he  will  pull 
the  tortoise  into  the  forest  and  kill  him  besides.  The 
tortoise  thereupon  gets  a  vine-stem,  ties  one  end 
around  the  body  of  the  tapir,  and  goes  to  the  sea, 
where  he  ties  the  other  end  to  the  tail  of  a  whale.  He 
then  goes  into  the  wood,  midway  between  them  both, 
and  gives  the  vine  a  shake  as  a  signal  for  the  pulling 
to  begin.  The  struggle  between  the  whale  and  tapir 
goes  on  until  each  thinks  the  tortoise  is  the  strongest 
of  animals.  Compare  this  with  the  story  of  the  terra 
pin's  contest  with  the  bear,  in  which  Miss  Meadows's 
bed-cord  is  used  instead  of  a  vine-stem.  One  of  the 
most  characteristic  of  Uncle  Remus's  stories  is  that 
in  which  the  rabbit  proves  to  Miss  Meadows  and  the 
girls  that  the  fox  is  his  riding-horse.  This  is  almost 
identical  with  a  story  quoted  by  Mr.  Smith,  where 
the  jaguar  is  about  to  marry  the  deer's  daughter.  The 
cotia— a  species  of  rodent— is  also  in  love  with  her, 


INTRODUCTION  XI 

and  he  tells  the  deer  that  he  can  make  a  riding-horse 
of  the  jaguar.  "Well,"  says  the  deer,  "if  you  can  make 
the  jaguar  carry  you,  you  shall  have  my  daughter." 
Thereupon  the  story  proceeds  pretty  much  as  Uncle 
Remus  tells  it  of  the  fox  and  rabbit.  The  cotia  finally 
jumps  from  the  jaguar  and  takes  refuge  in  a  hole, 
where  an  owl  is  set  to  watch  him,  but  he  flings  sand 
in  the  owl's  eyes  and  escapes.  In  another  story  given 
by  Mr.  Smith,  the  cotia  is  very  thirsty,  and,  seeing  a 
man  coming  with  a  jar  on  his  head,  lies  down  in  the 
road  in  front  of  him,  and  repeats  this  until  the  man 
puts  down  his  jar  to  go  back  after  all  the  dead  cotias 
he  has  seen.  This  is  almost  identical  with  Uncle 
Remus's  story  of  how  the  rabbit  robbed  the  fox  of  his 
game.  In  a  story  from  Upper  Egypt,  a  fox  lies  down 
in  the  road  in  front  of  a  man  who  is  carrying  fowls  to 
market,  and  finally  succeeds  in  securing  them. 

This  similarity  extends  to  almost  every  story 
quoted  by  Mr.  Smith,  and  some  are  so  nearly  iden 
tical  as  to  point  unmistakably  to  a  common  origin; 
but  when  and  where?  When  did  the  Negro  or  the 
North  American  Indian  ever  come  in  contact  with 
the  tribes  of  South  America?  Upon  this  point  the  au 
thor  of  Brazil  and  the  Amazons,  who  is  engaged  in 
making  a  critical  and  comparative  study  of  these 
myth-stories,  writes: 

"I  am  not  prepared  to  form  a  theory  about  these  stories. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  that  some  of  them,  found  among 


Xli  INTRODUCTION 

the  Negroes  and  the  Indians,  had  a  common  origin.  The 
most  natural  solution  would  be  to  suppose  that  they 
originated  in  Africa,  and  were  carried  to  South  America 
by  the  Negro  slaves.  They  are  certainly  found  among  the 
Red  Negroes;  but,  unfortunately  for  the  African  theory,  it 
is  equally  certain  that  they  are  told  by  savage  Indians  of 
the  Amazons  Valley,  away  up  on  the  Tapajos,  Red  Negro, 
and  Tapura.  These  Indians  hardly  ever  see  a  Negro,  and 
their  languages  are  very  distinct  from  the  broken  Por 
tuguese  spoken  by  the  slaves.  The  form  of  the  stories,  as 
recounted  in  the  Tupi  and  Mundurucu  languages,  seems 
to  show  that  they  were  originally  formed  in  those  lan 
guages  or  have  long  been  adopted  in  them. 

'It  is  interesting  to  find  a  story  from  Upper  Egypt  (that 
of  the  fox  who  pretended  to  be  dead)  identical  with  an 
Amazonian  story,  and  strongly  resembling  one  found  by 
you  among  the  Negroes.  Varnhagen,  the  Brazilian  his 
torian  (now  Visconde  de  Rio  Branco),  tried  to  prove  a 
relationship  between  the  ancient  Egyptians,  or  other 
Turanian  stock,  and  the  Tupi  Indians.  His  theory  rested 
on  rather  a  slender  basis,  yet  it  must  be  confessed  that 
he  had  one  or  two  strong  points.  Do  the  resemblances 
between  Old  and  New  World  stories  point  to  a  similar 
conclusion?  It  would  be  hard  to  say  with  the  material 
that  we  now  have. 

"One  thing  is  certain.  The  animal  stories  told  by  the 
Negroes  in  our  Southern  States  and  in  Brazil  were  brought 
by  them  from  Africa.  Whether  they  originated  there,  or 
with  the  Arabs,  or  Egyptians,  or  with  yet  more  ancient 
nations,  must  still  be  an  open  question.  Whether  the  In 
dians  got  them  from  the  Negroes  or  from  some  earlier 
source  is  equally  uncertain.  We  have  seen  enough  to 


INTRODUCTION  Xltl 

know  that  a  very  interesting  line  of  investigation  has  been 
opened/' 

Professor  Hartt,  in  his  Amazonian  Tortoise  Myths, 
quotes  a  story  from  the  Riverside  Magazine  of 
November,  1868,  which  will  be  recognized  as  a  vari 
ant  of  one  given  by  Uncle  Remus.  I  venture  to  ap 
pend  it  here,  with  some  necessary  verbal  and 
phonetic  alterations,  in  order  to  give  the  reader  an 
idea  of  the  difference  between  the  dialect  of  the 
cotton  plantations,  as  used  by  Uncle  Remus,  and  the 
lingo  in  vogue  on  the  rice  plantations  and  Sea  Islands 
of  the  South  Atlantic  States: 

"One  time  B'er  Deer  an*  B'er  Cooter  (Terrapin)  was 
courtin',  and  de  lady  did  bin  lub  B'er  Deer  mo'  so  dan 
B'er  Cooter.  She  did  bin  lub  B'er  Cooter,  but  she  lub  B'er 
Deer  de  merest.  So  de  noung  lady  say  to  B'er  Deer  and 
B'er  Cooter  bofe  dat  dey  mus*  hab  a  ten-mile  race,  an* 
de  one  dat  beats,  she  will  go  marry  him. 

"So  B'er  Cooter  say  to  B'er  Deer:  Tou  has  got  mo' 
longer  legs  dan  I  has,  but  I  will  run  you.  You  run  ten  mile 
on  land,  and  I  will  run  ten  mile  on  de  water!' 

"So  B'er  Cooter  went  an'  git  nine  er  his  famly,  an*  put 
one  at  ebery  mile-pos',  and  he  hisse'f,  what  was  to  run 
wid  B'er  Deer,  he  was  right  in  front  of  de  young  lady's 
do',  in  de  broom-grass. 

"Dat  mornin'  at  nine  o'clock,  B'er  Deer  he  did  met  B'er 
Cooter  at  de  fus  mile-pos',  wey  dey  was  to  start  fum.  So 
he  call:  Well,  B'er  Cooter,  is  you  ready?  Go  long!'  As  he 
git  on  to  de  nex'  mile-pos',  he  say:  'B'er  Cooter!'  B'er 


JQV  INTRODUCTION 

Cooter  say:  'Hullo!'  B'er  Deer  say:  *You  dereF  B'er 
Cooter  say:  *Yes,  B'er  Deer,  I  dere  too.' 

"Nex'  mile-pos'  he  jump,  B'er  Deer  say:  'Hullo,  B'er 
Cooter!'  B'er  Cooter  say:  'Hullo,  B'er  Deer!  you  dere 
too?*  B'er  Deer  say:  *Ki!  it  look  like  you  gwine  fer  tie 
me;  it  look  like  we  gwine  fer  de  gal  tie!' 

*Wen  he  git  to  de  nine-mile  pos'  he  tought  he  git  dere 
fus,  'cause  he  mek  two  jump;  so  he  holler:  'B'er  Cooter!' 
B'er  Cooter  answer:  *You  dere  too?'  B'er  Deer  say:  It 
look  like  you  gwine  tie  me.'  B'er  Cooter  say:  'Go  long, 
B'er  Deer.  I  git  dere  in  due  season  time,'  which  he  does, 
and  wins  de  race." 

The  story  of  the  Rabbit  and  the  Fox,  as  told  by  the 
Southern  negroes,  is  artistically  dramatic  in  this:  it 
progresses  in  an  orderly  way  from  a  beginning  to  a 
well-defined  conclusion,  and  is  full  of  striking  epi 
sodes  that  suggest  the  culmination.  It  seems  to  me  to 
be  to  a  certain  extent  allegorical,  albeit  such  an  in 
terpretation  may  be  unreasonable.  At  least  it  is  a 
fable  thoroughly  characteristic  of  the  Negro;  and  it 
needs  no  scientific  investigation  to  show  why  he 
selects  as  his  hero  the  weakest  and  most  harmless  of 
all  animals,  and  brings  him  out  victorious  in  contests 
with  the  bear,  the  wolf,  and  the  fox.  It  is  not  virtue 
that  triumphs,  but  helplessness;  it  is  not  malice,  but 
mischievousness.  It  would  be  presumptious  in  me  to 
offer  an  opinion  as  to  the  origin  of  these  curious 
myth-stories;  but,  if  ethnologists  should  discover  that 
I  they  did  not  originate  with  the  African,  the  proof  to 


INTRODUCTION  XV 

that  eflFect  should  be  accompanied  with  a  good  deal ! 
of  persuasive  eloquence. 

Curiously  enough,  I  have  found  few  Negroes  who 
will  acknowledge  to  a  stranger  that  they  know  any* 
thing  of  these  legends;  and  yet  to  relate  one  of  the 
stories  is  the  surest  road  to  their  confidence  and 
esteem.  In  this  way,  and  in  this  way  only,  I  have 
been  enabled  to  collect  and  verify  the  folk-lore  in 
cluded  in  this  volume.  There  is  an  anecdote  about  the 
Irishman  and  the  rabbit  which  a  number  of  Negroes 
have  told  to  me  with  great  unction,  and  which  is  both 
funny  and  characteristic,  though  I  will  not  undertake 
to  say  that  it  has  its  origin  with  the  blacks.  One  day 
an  Irishman  who  had  heard  people  talking  about 
"mares'  nests"  was  going  along  the  big  road— it  is 
always  the  big  road  in  contradistinction  to  neighbor 
hood  paths  and  by-paths,  called  in  the  vernacular 
"nigh-cuts"— when  he  came  to  a  pumpkin-patch.  The 
Irishman  had  never  seen  any  of  this  fruit  before,  and 
he  at  once  concluded  that  he  had  discovered  a  veri 
table  mare's  nest.  Making  the  most  of  his  opportunity, 
he  gathered  one  of  the  pumpkins  in  his  arms  and 
went  on  h^  way.  A  pumpkin  is  an  exceedingly  awk 
ward  thing  to  carry,  and  the  Irishman  had  not  gone 
far  before  he  made  a  misstep,  and  stumbled.  The 
pumpkin  fell  to  the  ground,  rolled  down  the  hill  into 
a  "brush-heap,"  and,  striking  against  a  stump,  was 
broken.- The  story  continues  in  the  dialect:  "Wen  de 


INTRODUCTION 

punkin  roll  in  de  bresh-heap,  out  jump  a  rabbit;  en 
soon's  de  I'shmuns  see  dat,  he  take  atter  de  rabbit  en 
holler:  'Kworp,  colty!  kworp,  colty!'  but  de  rabbit,  he 
des  flew."  The  point  of  this  is  obvious. 

As  to  the  songs,  the  reader  is  warned  that  it  will  be 
found  difficult  to  make  them  conform  to  the  ordinary 
rules  of  versification,  nor  is  it  intended  that  they 
should  so  conform.  They  are  written,  and  are  intended 
to  be  read,  solely  with  reference  to  the  regular  and 
invariable  recurrence  of  the  caesura,  as,  for  instance, 
the  first  stanza  of  the  Revival  Hymn: 

"Oh,  whar  |  shill  we  go  |  w'en  de  great  |  day  comes  | 
Wid  de  blow  |  in'  er  de  trumpits  |  en  de  bang    in*  er  de 

drums  | 

How  man  |  y  po'  sin  |  nersll  be  kotch'd  |  out  late 
En  fine  |  no  latch  |  ter  de  gold  |  en  gate  |  " 

In  other  words,  the  songs  depend  for  their  melody 
and  rhythm  upon  the  musical  quality  of  time,  and  not 
upon  long  or  short,  accented  or  unaccented  syllables. 
I  am  persuaded  that  this  fact  led  Mr.  Sidney  Lanier, 
who  is  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  metrical  peculi 
arities  of  negro  songs,  into  the  exhaustive  investiga 
tion  which  has  resulted  in  the  publication  of  his 
scholarly  treatise  on  The  Science  of  English  Verse. 

The  difference  between  the  dialect  of  the  legends 
and  that  of  the  character-sketches,  slight  as  it  is, 
marks  the  modifications  which  the  speech  of  the 


INTRODUCTION  XVil 

Negro  has  undergone  even  where  education  has 
played  no  part  in  reforming  it.  Indeed,  save  in  the 
remote  country  districts,  the  dialect  of  the  legends 
has  nearly  disappeared.  I  am  perfectly  well  aware 
that  the  character-sketches  are  without  permanent 
interest,  but  they  are  embodied  here  for  the  purpose 
of  presenting  a  phase  of  Negro  character  wholly  dis 
tinct  from  that  which  I  have  endeavored  to  preserve 
in  the  legends.  Only  in  this  shape,  and  with  all  the 
local  allusions,  would  it  be  possible  to  adequately 
represent  the  shrewd  observations,  the  curious  re 
torts,  the  homely  thrusts,  the  quaint  comments,  and 
the  humorous  philosophy  of  the  race  of  which  Uncle 
Remus  is  the  type. 

If  the  reader  not  familiar  with  plantation  life  will 
imagine  that  the  myth-stories  of  Uncle  Remus  are 
told  night  after  night  to  a  little  boy  by  an  old  Negro 
who  appears  to  be  venerable  enough  to  have  lived 
during  the  period  which  he  describes— who  has 
nothing  but  pleasant  memories  of  the  discipline  of 
slavery— and  who  has  all  the  prejudices  of  caste  and 
pride  of  family  that  were  the  natural  results  of  the 
system;  if  the  reader  can  imagine  all  this,  he  will  find 
little  difficulty  in  appreciating  and  sympathizing  with 
the  air  of  affectionate  superiority  which  Uncle  Remus 
assumes  as  he  proceeds  to  unfold  the  mysteries  of 
plantation  lore  to  a  little  child  who  is  the  product  of 
that  practical  reconstruction  which  has  been  going 


JfViii  INTRODUCTION 

on  to  some  extent  since  the  war  in  spite  of  the  poli 
ticians.  Uncle  Remus  describes  that  reconstruction  in 
his  Story  of  the  War,  and  I  may  as  well  add  here  for 
the  benefit  of  the  curious  that  that  story  is  almost 
literally  true. 

J.  C.  H. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

I.— Uncle  Remus  initiates  the  Little  Boy  ...  3 

II.-The  Wonderful  Tar-Baby  Story  .      .      .      .  7 

III.— Why  Mr.  Possum  loves  Peace 11 

IV.— How  Mr.  Rabbit  was  too  sharp  for  Mr.  Fox  .  16 
V.— The  Story  of  the  Deluge,  and  how  it  came 

about 20 

VI.— Mr.  Rabbit  grossly  deceives  Mr.  Fox  ...  24 

VII.— Mr.  Fox  is  again  victimized 30 

VIII.— Mr.  Fox  is  "outdone"  by  Mr.  Buzzard  .      .  36 

IX.— Miss  Cow  falls  a  Victim  to  Mr.  Rabbit    .      .  41 

X.— Mr.  Terrapin  appears  upon  the  Scene  .      .  47 

XL-Mr.  Wolf  makes  a  Failure 54 

XII.— Mr.  Fox  tackles  Old  Man  Tarrypin  ...  59 

XIII.-The  Awful  Fate  of  Mr.  Wolf 63 

XIV.-Mr.  Fox  and  the  Deceitful  Frogs  ....  69 
XV.— Mr.  Fox  goes  a-hunting,  but  Mr.  Rabbit  bags 

the  Game 73 

XVI.-Old  Mr.  Rabbit,  he's  a  Good  Fisherman  .      .  76 

XVII. -Mr.  Rabbit  nibbles  up  the  Butter  .      ,      .      .  81 

XVIII.-Mr.  Rabbit  nods  his  Match  at  last     ...  87 

XIX.-The  Fate  of  Mr.  Jack  Sparrow     „      .     .     .  93 


KX  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

XX.-How  Mr.  Rabbit  saved  his  Meat  ....  99 

XXI.— Mr.  Rabbit  meets  his  Match  again     .      .      .  105 

XXII.-A  Story  about  the  Little  Rabbits  ....  108 

XXIII.-Mr.  Rabbit  and  Mr.  Bear 113 

XXIV.-Mr.  Bear  catches  Old  Mr.  Bull-Frog  .      .      .  117 

XXV.-How  Mr.  Rabbit  lost  his  Fine  Bushy  Tail     .  122 

XXVI.-Mr.  Terrapin  shows  his  Strength  ....  126 

XXVII.-Why  Mr.  Possum  has  no  Hair  on  his  Tail     .  131 

XXVIII.-The  End  of  Mr.  Bear 137 

XXIX.— Mr.  Fox  gets  into  Serious  Business   .      .      .  143 

XXX.— How  Mr.  Rabbit  succeeded  in  raising  a  Dust  .  149 

XXXI.-A  Plantation  Witch 153 

XXXII.-'Jacky-my-Lantern" 160 

XXXIII.-Why  the  Negro  is  Black 166 

XXXIV.-The  Sad  Fate  of  Mr.  Fox 168 

PLANTATION  PROVERBS 175 

His  SONGS 

I.— Revival  Hymn 183 

II.— Camp-Meeting  Song 184 

Hl.-Com-Shucking  Song 186 

IV.-The  Plough-hands'  Song 190 

V.— Christmas   Play-Song 191 

VI.— Plantation  Play-Song ,  193 

VII.— Transcriptions : 

1.  A  Plantation  Chant 195 

2.  A  Plantation  Serenade     ....  197 
VIII.-De  Big  Bethel  Church 198 

IX.— Time  goes  by  Turns 199 

A  STORY  OF  THE  WAR  .  203 


CONTENTS  XXI 

PAGE 

His  SAYINGS 

I.— Jeems  Robertson's  Last  Illness     .      .     .      .  219 

II.— Uncle  Remus's  Church  Experience     .      .      .  220 

III.— Uncle  Remus  and  the  Savannah  Darkey  .      .  224 

IV.— Turnip  Salad  as  a  Text 227 

V.— A  Confession 228 

Vl.-Uncle  Remus  with  the  Toothache     ...  230 

VII.-The  Phonograph 233 

VIII.— Race  Improvement 235 

IX.-In  the  Role  of  a  Tartar 237 

X.— A  Case  of  Measles 239 

XI.-The  Emigrants 242 

XII.-As  a  Murderer 244 

XIII.— His  Practical  View  of  Things 247 

XIV.-That  Deceitful  Jug 249 

XV.-The  Florida  Watermelon 255 

XVI.— Uncle  Remus  preaches  to  a  Convert  .     .      .  257 

XVII.-As  to  Education 259 

XVIIL— A  Temperance  Reformer 261 

XIX.-As  a  Weather  Prophet 262 

XX.-The  Old  Man's  Troubles 264 

XXI.-The  Fourth  of  July 266 


PLATES 


*En  den  he  tun  loose,  he  did" 32 

"Brer  Rabbit  ain't  see  no  peace  w'atsumever*    .      .  64 

"You  feels  de  fleas  a  bitin',  Brer  Wolf" 68 

"Run  yer,  Brer  Wolf!  Yo*  cow  gwine  in  de  groun' "  .      .  104 

"Hit  'im  in  de  mouf,  Brer  Fox!" 116 

"He  try  ter  walk  off  wid  Brejr  Tarrypin" 130 

"Yer  come  a  great  big  black  wolf* 158 

The  corn-shucking 186 

"En  wadder  you  speck  I  see?" 212 

"An'  I  set  down  an'  wrop  myse'f  roun*  de  whole  blessid 

chunk"  258 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


UNCLE  REMUS  INITIATES  THE  LITTLE  BOY 


ONE    eve 
ning  recently, 
the  lady  whom 
Uncle  Remus 
calls    "Miss 
Sally"  missed 
her  little  sev 
en  -  year  -  old 
boy.    Making 
search      for 
him  through  the  house  and 
through  the  yard,  she  heard 
the  sound  of  voices  in  the 
old  man's  cabin,  and,  look 
ing   through   the   window, 
saw    the    child    sitting   by 
Uncle    Remus.      His   head 
rested  against  the  old  man's 
arm,  and  he  was  gazing  with  an  expression  of  the 
most  intense  interest  into  the  rough,  weather-beaten 

8 


4         LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

£ace,  that  beamed  so  kindly  upon  him.  This  is  what 
"Miss  Sally"  heard: 

"Bimeby,  dne  day,  arter  Brer  Fox  bin  doin'  all  dat 
he  could  fer  ter  ketch  Brer  Rabbit,  en  Brer  Rabbit 
bin  doin'  all  he  could  fer  to  keep  'im  fum  it,  Brer  Fox 
say  to  hisse'f  dat  he'd  put  up  a  game  on  Brer  Rabbit, 
en  he  ain't  mo'n  got  de  wuds  out'n  his  mouf  twel  Brer 
Rabbit  come  a  lopin'  up  de  big  road,  lookin*  des  ez 
plump,  en  ez  fat,  en  ez  sassy  ez  a  Moggin  hoss  in  a 
barley-patch. 

"  'Hoi'  on  dar,  Brer  Rabbit,'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"  1  ain't  got  time,  Brer  Fox,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee, 
sorter  mendin'  his  licks. 

'  'I  wanter  have  some  confab  wid  you,  Brer  Rab 
bit,'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"'All  right,  Brer  Fox,  but  you  better  holler  fum 
whar  you  stan'.  I'm  monstus  full  er  fleas  dis  mawninV 
sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee. 

"'I  seed  Brer  B'ar  yistiddy,'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee, 
'en  he  sorter  rake  me  over  de  coals  kaze  you  en  me 
ain't  make  frens  en  live  naberly,  en  I  told  'im  dat  I'd 
see  you/ 

"Den  Brer  Rabbit  scratch  one  year  wid  his  off 
hinefoot  sorter  jub'usly,  en  den  he  ups  en  sez,  sezee: 

"'All  a  settin',  Brer  Fox.  Spose'n  you  drap  roun' 
ter-morrer  en  take  dinner  wid  me.  We  ain't  got  no 
great  doin's  at  our  house,  but  I  speck  de  old  'oman  en 


UNCLE  REMUS   INITIATES   THE  LITTLE  BOY  5 

de  chilluns  kin  sorter  scramble  roun'  en  git  up  sump'n 
f er  ter  stay  yo'  stummuck.' 

"I'm  'gree^le,  Brer  Rabbit/  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"  'Den  111  'pen*  on  you/  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee. 

"Nex'  day,  Mr.  Rabbit  an*  Miss  Rabbit  got  up  soon, 
'fo'  day,  en  raided  on  a  gyarden  like  Miss  Sally's  out 
dar,  en  got  some  cabbiges  en  some  roas'n  years,  en 
some  sparrer-grass,  en  dey  fix  up  a  smashin'  dinner. 
Bimeby  one  er  de  little  Rabbits,  playin'  out  in  de 
backyard,  come  runnin'  in  hollerin',  'Oh,  ma!  oh,  ma! 
I  seed  Mr.  Fox  a  cominT  En  den  Brer  Rabbit  he 
tuck  de  chilluns  by  der  years  en  make  um  set  down, 
en  den  him  and  Miss  Rabbit  sorter  dally  roun'  waitin' 
for  Brer  Fox.  En  dey  keep  on  waitin',  but  no  Brer  Fox 
ain't  come.  Atter  'while  Brer  Rabbit  goes  to  de  do', 
easy  like,  en  peep  out,  en  dar,  stickin'  fum  behime 
de  cornder,  wuz  de  tip-een'er  Brer  Fox  tail.  Den  Brer 
Rabbit  shot  de  do'  en  sot  down,  en  put  his  paws 
behime  his  years  en  begin  fer  ter  sing: 

"'De  place  wharbouts  you  spill  de  grease, 

Right  dar  youer  boun'  ter  slide, 
An*  whar  you  fine  a  bunch  er  ha'r, 
You'll  sholy  fine  de  hide/ 

"Nex'  day,  Brer  Fox  sont  word  by  Mr.  Mink,  en 
skuze  hisse'f  kaze  he  wuz  too  sick  fer  ter  come,  en 
he  ax  Brer  Rabbit  fer  to  come  en  take  dinner  wid 
him,  en  Brer  Rabbit  say  he  wuz  'gree'ble. 

"Bimeby,  w'en  de  shadders  wuz  at  der  shortes', 


6 


LEGENDS   OF   THE  OLD   PLANTATION 


Brer  Rabbit  he  sorter  brush  up  en  santer  down  ter 
Brer  Fox's  house,  en  w'en  he  got  dar,  he  hear  some 
body  groanin',  en  he  look  in  de  do'  en  dar  he  see 
Brer  Fox  settin'  up  in  a  rockin'  cheer  all  wrop  up 
wid  flannil,  en  he  look  mighty  weak.  Brer  Rabbit  look 
all  'roun',  he  did,  but  he  ain't  see  no  dinner.  De  dish- 
pan  wuz  settin'  on  de  table,  en  close  by  wuz  a  kyarv- 
in*  knife. 


"  'Look  like  you  gwineter  have  chicken  f er  dinner, 
Brer  Fox,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee. 

'  'Yes,  Brer  Rabbit,  deyer  nice,  en  fresh,  en  tender,' 
sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"Den  Brer  Rabbit  sorter  pull  his  mustarsh,  en  say: 
*You  ain't  got  no  calamus  root,  is  you,  Brer  Fox?  I 
done  got  so  now  dat  I  can't  eat  no  chicken  'ceppin 


THE  WONDERFUL  TAR-BABY  STORY  7 

she's  seasoned  up  wid  calamus  root.'  En  wid  dat  Brer 
Rabbit  lipt  out  er  de  do'  and  dodge  'mong  de  bushes, 
en  sot  dar  watchin'  fer  Brer  Fox;  en  he  ain't  watch 
long,  nudder,  kaze  Brer  Fox  flung  off  de  flannil  en 
crope  out  er  de  house  en  got  whar  he  could  cloze  in 
on  Brer  Rabbit,  en  bimeby  Brer  Rabbit  holler  out: 
'Oh,  Brer  Fox!  Ill  des  put  yo'  calamus  root  out  yer 
on  dish  yer  stump.  Better  come  git  it  while  hit's 
fresh,'  and  wid  dat  Brer  Rabbit  gallop  off  home.  En 
Brer  Fox  ain't  never  kotch  'im  yit,  en  w'at's  mo', 
honey,  he  ain't  gwineter." 


THE  WONDERFUL  TAR-BABY  STORY 

"DIDN'T  the  fox  never  catch  the  rabbit,  Uncle 
Remus?"  asked  the  little  boy  the  next  evening. 

"He  come  mighty  nigh  it,  honey,  sho's  you  born- 
Brer  Fox  did.  One  day  atter  Brer  Rabbit  fool  'im  wid 
dat  calamus  root,  Brer  Fox  went  ter.wuk  en  got  'im 
some  tar,  en  mix  it  wid  some  turkentime,  en  fix  up  a 
contrapshun  wat  he  call  a  Tar-Baby,  en  he  tuck  dish 
yer  Tar-Baby  en  he  sot  'er  in  de  big  road,  en  den  he 
lay  off  in  de  bushes  fer  to  see  what  de  news  wuz 
gwineter  be.  En  he  didn't  hatter  wait  long,  nudder, 
kaze  bimeby  here  come  Brer  Rabbit  pacin'  down  de 
road— lippity-clippity,  clippity-lippity— dez  ez  sassy 
ez  a  jay-bird.  Brer  Fox,  he  lay  low.  Brer  Rabbit  come 


8 


LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


prancin'  'long  twel  he  spy  de  Tar-Baby,  en  den  he 
fetch  up  on  his  behime  legs  like  he  wus  Astonished.  De 
Tar-Baby,  she  sot  dar,  she  did,  en  Brer  Fox,  he  lay 
low. 


"'MawninT  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee— 'nice  wedder 
dis  mawninV  sezee. 

'Tar-Baby  ain't  sayin'  nothin',  en  Brer  Fox,  he  lay 
low. 

"  'How  duz  yo'  sym'tums  seem  ter  segashuate?'  sez 
Brer  Rabbit,  sezee. 

"Brer  Fox,  he  wink  his  eye  slow,  en  lay  low,  en  de 
Tar-Baby,  she  ain't  sayin'  nothin'. 


THE  WONDERFUL  TAR-BABY   STORY 


9 


"  'How  you  come  on,  den?  Is  you  deaf?*  sez  Brer 
Rabbit,  sezee.  'Kaze  if  you  is,  I  kin  holler  louder/ 
sezee. 

"Tar-Baby  stay 
still,  en  Brer  Fox, 
he  lay  low. 

"  'Youer  stuck 
up,  dat's  w'at  you 
is,'  says  Brer  Rab 
bit,  sezee,  'en  I'm 


gwineter  kyore 
you,  dat's  w'at  I'm 
a    gwineter    d 
sezee. 

"Brer   Fox,   he     y^ 
sorter  chuckle  in 
his  stummick,  he 
did,  but  Tar-Baby  ain't  sayih'  nothin'. 

"'I'm  gwineter  larn  you  howter  talk  ter  'spect- 
tubble  fokes  ef  hit's  de  las'  ack,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit, 
sezee.  'Ef  you  don't  take  off  dat  hat  en  tell  me  howdy, 
I'm  gwineter  bus'  you  wide  open,'  sezee. 

"Tar-Baby  stay  still,  en  Brer  Fox,  he  lay  low. 

"Brer  Rabbit  keep  on  axin'  'im,  en  de  Tar-Baby, 
she  keep  on  sayin'  nothin',  twel  present'y  Brer  Rab 
bit  draw  back  wid  his  fis',  he  did,  en  blip  he  tuck  *er 
side  er  de  head.  Right  dar's  whar  he  broke  his  mer- 
lasses  jug.  His  fis'  stuck,  en  he  can't  pull  loose.  De  tar 


10 


LEGENDS   OF   THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


hilt  'im.  But  Tar-Baby,  she  stay  still,  en  Brer  Fox* 
he  lay  low. 

"  'Ef  you  don't  lemme  loose,  111  knock  you  agin,' 
sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee,  en  wid  dat  he  f otch  'er  a  wipe 
wid  de  udder  han',  en  dat  stuck.  Tar-Baby,  she  ain't 
sayin'  nothin',  en  Brer  Fox,  he  lay  low. 


*  Tu'n  me  loose,  f o"  I  kick  de  natal  stuffin'  outen 
you,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee,  but  de  Tar-Baby,  she 
ain't  sayin'  nothin'.  She  des  hilt  on,  en  den  Brer  Rab 
bit  lose  de  use  er  his  feet  in  de  same  way.  Brer  Fox, 
he  lay  low.  Den  Brer  Rabbit  squall  out  dat  ef  de  Tar- 
Baby  don't  tu'n  'im  loose  he  butt  'er  cranksided.  En 
"Jen  he  butted,  en  his  head  got  stuck.  Den  Brer  Fox, 


WHY  MR.   POSSUM  LOVES  PEACE  11 

he  sa'ntered  fort',  lookin'  des  ez  innercent  ez  one  er 
yo*  mammy's  mockin'-birds. 

"  'Howdy,  Brer  Rabbit/  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee.  *You 
look  sorter  stuck  up  dis  mawninV  sezee,  en  den  he 
rolled  on  de  groun',  en  laughed  en  laughed  twel  he 
couldn't  laugh  no  mo'.  1  speck  you'll  take  dinner 
wid  me  dis  time,  Brer  Rabbit.  I  done  laid  in  some 
calamus  root,  en  I  ain't  gwineter  take  no  skuse,'  sez 
Brer  Fox,  sezee." 

Here  Uncle  Remus  paused,  and  drew  a  two-pound 
yam  out  of  the  ashes. 

"Did  the  fox  eat  the  rabbit?"  asked  the  little  boy 
to  whom  the  story  had  been  told. 

"Dat's  all  de  fur  de  tale  goes,"  replied  the  old  man. 
"He  mout,  en  den  again  he  moutent.  Some  say  Jedge 
B'ar  come  long  en  loosed  'im— some  say  he  didn't.  I 
hear  Miss  Sally  callin'.  You  better  run  long." 

m 

WHY  MR.  POSSUM  LOVES  PEACE 

"ONE  night,"  said  Uncle  Remus— taking  Miss  Sally's 
little  boy  on  his  knee,  and  stroking  the  child's  hair 
thoughtfully  and  caressingly— "one  night  Brer  Possum 
call  by  fer  Brer  Coon,  'cordin'  ter  greement,  en  attet 
gobblin'  up  a  dish  er  fried  greens  en  smokin'  a  seeg- 
yar,  dey  rambled  fort'  fer  ter  see  how  de  ballance  er 
de  settlement  wuz  gittin'  long.  Brer  Coon,  he  wuz 


12       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

one  er  deze  yer  natchul  pacers,  en  he  racked  long 
same  ez  Mars  John's  bay  pony,  en  Brer  Possum  he 
went  in  a  han'-gallup;  en  dey  got  over  heap  er  groun', 
mon.  Brer  Possum,  he  got  his  belly  full  er  'simmons, 
en  Brer  Coon,  he  scoop  up  a  T^unnunce  er  frogs  en 
tadpoles.  Dey  amble  'long,  dey  did,  des  ez  sociable 
ez  a  basket  er  kittens,  twel  bimeby  dey  hear  Mr.  Dog 
talkin'  ter  hisse'f  way  off  in  de  woods. 

"  'Spozen  he  runs  up  on  us,  Brer  Possum,  w'at  you 
gwineter  do?'  sez  Brer  Coon,  sezee.  Brer  Possum 
sorter  laugh  'round  de  cornders  un  his  mouf . 

"  'Oh,  ef  he  come,  Brer  Coon,  I'm  gwineter  stan' 
by  you/  sez  Brer  Possum.  Wat  you  gwineter  do?' 
sezee. 

"  Who?  me?'  sez  Brer  Coon.  'Ef  he  run  up  onter 
me,  I  lay  I  give  'im  one  twis','  sezee." 

"Did  the  dog  come?"  asked  the  little  boy. 

"Go  'way,  honey!"  responded  the  old  man,  in  an 
impressive  tone.  "Go  wayl  Mr.  Dog,  he  come  en  he 
come  a  zoonin'.  En  he  ain't  wait  fer  ter  say  howdy, 
nudder.  He  des  sail  inter  de  two  un  urn.  De  ve'y  fus 
pas  he  make  Brer  Possum  fetch  a  grin  fum  year  ter 
year,  en  keel  over  like  he  wuz  dead.  Den  Mr.  Dog,  he 
sail  inter  Brer  Coon,  en  right  dar's  whar  he  drap  his 
money  purse,  kaze  Brer  Coon  wuz  cut  out  fer  dat 
kinder  bizness,  en  he  fa'rly  wipe  up  de  face  er  de  yeth 
wid  'im.  You  better  b'leeve  dat  w'en  Mr.  Dog  got  a 
chance  to  make  hisse'f  skase  he  tuck  it.  en  w'at  der 


WHY  MR.   POSSUM   LOVES   PEACE 


13 


wuz  lef  nn  him  went  skaddlin'  thoo  de  woods  like  hit 
wuz  shot  outen  a  muskit  En  Brer  Coon,  he  sorter 


lick  his  cloze  inter  shape  en  rack  off,  en  Brer  Possum^, 
he  lay  dar  like  he  wuz  dead,  twel  bimeby  he  raise  up 
sorter  keerful  like,  en  w'en  he  fine  de  coas'  cle'r  he 
scramble  up  en  scamper  off  like  sumpin  was  atter 

y*         y> 

un. 

Here  Uncle  Remus  paused  long  enough  to  pick  up 
a  live  coal  of  fire  in  his  fingers,  transfer  it  to  the  palm 


14  LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

of  his  hand,  and  thence  to  his  clay  pipe,  which  he  had 
been  filling— a  proceeding  that  was  viewed  by  the 
little  boy  with  undisguised  admiration.  The  old  man 
then  proceeded: 

"Nex'  time  Brer  Possum  met  Brer  Coon,  Brer 
Coon  'fuse  ter  'spon'  ter  his  howdy,  en  dis  make  Brer 
Possum  feel  mighty  bad,  seein'  ez  how  dey  useter 
make  so  many  'scurshuns  tergedder. 

'  Wat  make  you  hoF  yo'  head  so  high,  Brer  Coon?' 
sez  Brer  Possum,  sezee. 

"  1  ain't  runnin'  wid  cowerds  deze  days,'  sez  Brer 
Coon.  Wen  I  wants  you  111  sen'  fer  you,'  sezee. 

"Den  Brer  Possum  git  mighty  mad. 

'  Who's  enny  cowerd?'  sezee. 

"You  is,'  sez  Brer  Coon,  'dat's  who.  I  ain't  so- 
shatin'  wid  dem  w'at  lays  down  on  de  groun'  en  plays 
dead  w'en  dar's  a  free  fight  gwine  on,'  sezee. 

"Den  Brer  Possum  grin  en  laugh  fit  to  kill  hisse'f . 

"  'Lor',  Brer  Coon,  you  don't  speck  I  done  dat  kaze 
I  wuz  'feared,  duz  you?'  sezee.  Wy  I  want  no  mo' 
'feared  dan  you  is  dis  minnit.  W'at  wuz  dey  fer  ter  be 
skeered  un?'  sezee.  1  know'd  you'd  git  away  wid 
Mr.  Dog  ef  I  didn't,  en  I  des  lay  dar  watchin'  you 
shake  him,  waitin'  fer  ter  put  in  w'en  de  time  come,1 
sezee. 

"Brer  Coon  tu'n  up  his  nose. 

"  'Dat's  a  mighty  likely  tale,'  sezee,  Ven  Mr.  Dog 


WHY  MR.   POSSUM   LOVES   PEACE  15 

ain't  mo'n  tech  you  'fo'  you  keel  over,  en  lay  dar  stiff/ 
sezee. 


"  TDat's  des  w'at  I  wuz  gwineter  tell  you  Tbout/  sez 
Brer  Possum,  sezee.  1  want  no  mo'  skeer'd  dan  you 
is  right  now,  en*  I  wuz  fixin'  fer  ter  give  Mr.  Dog  a 
sample  er  my  jaw,'  sezee,  *but  I'm  de  most  ticklish 
chap  w'at  you  ever  laid  eyes  on,  en  no  sooner  did  Mr. 
Dog  put  his  nose  down  yer  'mong  my  ribs  dan  I  got 
ter  laughin',  en  I  laughed  twel  I  ain't  had  no  use  er 
my  lim's/  sezee,  'en  it's  a  mussy  unto  Mr.  Dog  dat  I 
wuz  ticklish,  kaze  a  little  mo'  en  I'd  e't  'im  up/  sezee. 
1  don't  mine  fightin',  Brer  Coon,  no  mo'  dan  you  duz/ 
sezee,  *but  I  declar'  ter  grashus  ef  I  kin  stan'  ticklin'. 
Git  me  in  a  row  whar  dey  ain't  no  ticklin'  lowed,  en 
I'm  your  man/  sezee. 


16  LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

"En  down  ter  dis  day"— continued  Uncle  Remus, 
watching  the  smoke  from  his  pipe  curl  upward  over 
the  little  boy's  head— "down  ter  dis  day,  Brer  Pos 
sum's  bound  ter  s'render  w'en  you  tech  him  in  de 
short  ribs,  en  he'll  laugh  ef  he  knows  he's  gwineter  be 
smashed  fer  it." 


IV 

HOW  MR.  RABBIT  WAS  TOO  SHARP  FOR  MR.  FOX 

"UNCLE  REMUS,"  said  the  little  boy  one  evening, 
when  he  had  found  the  old  man  with  little  or  nothing 
to  do,  "did  the  fox  kill  and  eat  the  rabbit  when  he 
caught  him  with  the  Tar-Baby?" 

"Law,  honey,  ain't  I  tell  you  *bout  dat?"  replied 
the  old  darkey,  chuckling  slyly.  "I  'clar  ter  grashus 
I  ought  er  tole  you  dat,  but  old  man  Nod  wuz  ridin' 
on  my  eyeleds  'twel  a  leetle  mo'n  I'd  a  dis'member'd 
my  own  name,  en  den  on  to  dat  here  come  yo' 
mammy  hollerin'  atter  you. 

"Wat  I  tell  you  w'en  I  fus'  begin?  I  tole  you  Brer 
Rabbit  wuz  a  monstus  soon  creetur;  leas'ways  dat's 
w'at  I  laid  out  fer  ter  tell  you.  Well,  den,  honey,  don't 
you  go  en  make  no  udder  calkalashuns,  kaze  in  dem 
days  Brer  Rabbit  en  his  fambly  wuz  at  de  head  er 
de  gang  w'en  enny  racket  wuz  on  han',  en  dar  dey 
stayed.  'Fo'  you  begins  fer  ter  wipe  yo'  eyes  'bout 
Brer  Rabbit,  you  wait  en  see  whar'bouts  Brer  Rabbit 


HOW  MR.  RABBIT  WAS  TOO  SHARP  FOR  MR.  FOX    17 

gwineter  fetch  up  at.  But  dat's  needer  yer  ner  dar. 

"Wen  Brer  Fox  fine  Brer  Rabbit  mixt  up  wid  de 
Tar-Baby,  he  feel  mighty  good,  en  he  roll  on  de 
groun'  en  laff.  Bimeby  he  up'n  say,  sezee: 

"  Well,  I  speck  I  got  you  dis  time,  Brer  Rabbit, 


sezee;  'maybe  I  ain't,  but  I  speck  I  is.  You  been  run- 
nin'  roun'  here  sassin'  atter  me  a  mighty  long  time, 
but  I  speck  you  done  come  ter  de  een'  er  de  row.  You 
bin  cuttin*  up  yo'  capers  en  bouncin'  'roun*  in  dis 
neighberhood  ontwel  you  come  ter  b'leeve  yo'se'f  de 
boss  er  de  whole  gang.  En  den  youer  allers  some'rs 
whar  you  got  no  bizness,'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee.  *Who 
ax  you  fer  ter  come  en  strike  up  a  'quaintance  wid 
dish  yer  Tar-Baby?  En  who  stuck  you  up  dar  whar 
you  iz?  Nobody  in  de  roun'  worril.  You  des  tuck  en 


18  LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

Jam  yo'se'f  on  dat  Tar-Baby  widout  waitin'  fer  enny 
invite/  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee,  'en  dar  you  is,  en  dar 
you'll  stay  twel  I  fixes  up  a  bresh-pile  and  fires  her 
tip,  kaze  I'm  gwineter  bobby-cue  you  dis  day,  sho/ 
sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"Den  Brer  Rabbit  talk  mighty  'umble. 

"1  don't  keer  w'at  you  do  wid  me,  Brer  Fox/ 
sezee,  'so  you  don't  fling  me  in  dat  brier-patch.  Roas' 
me,  Brer  Fox/  sezee,  *but  don't  fling  me  in  dat  brier- 
patch/  sezee. 

"'Hit's  so  much  trouble  fer  ter  kindle  a  fier/  sez 
Brer  Fox,  sezee,  'dat  I  speck  I'll  hatter  hang  you/ 
sezee. 

"'Hang  me  des  ez  high  as  you  please,  Brer  Fox/ 
sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee,  *but  do  fer  de  Lord's  sake 
don't  fling  me  in  dat  brier-patch/  sezee. 

"'I  ain't  got  no  string/  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee,  'en 
now  I  speck  I'll  hatter  drown  you/  sezee. 

"  'Drown  me  des  ez  deep  ez  you  please,  Brer  Fox/ 
sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee,  *but  do  don't  fling  me  in  dat 
brier-patch/  sezee. 

"'Dey  ain't  no  water  nigh/  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee, 
'en  now  I  speck  I'll  hatter  skin  you/  sezee. 

"'Skin  me,  Brer  Fox/  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee, 
'snatch  out  my  eyeballs,  t'ar  out  my  years  by  de  roots, 
en  cut  off  my  legs/  sezee,  *but  do  please,  Brer  Fox, 
don't  fling  me  in  dat  brier-patch/  sezee. 


HOW  MR.  RABBIT  WAS  TOO  SHARP  FOR  MR.  FOX 


19 


"Co'se  Brer  Fox  wanter  hurt  Brer  Rabbit  bad  ez 
he  kin,  so  he  cotch  'im  by  de  behime  legs  en  slung 
'im  right  in  de  middle  er  de  brier-patch.  Dar  wuz  a 


considerbul  flutter  whar  Brer  Rabbit  struck  de 
bushes,  en  Brer  Fox  sorter  hang  'roun*  fer  ter  see  w'at 
wuz  gwineter  happen.  Bimeby  he  hear  somebody  call 
'im,  en  way  up  de  hill  he  see  Brer  Rabbit  settin'  cross- 
legged  on  a  chinkapin  log  koamin'  de  pitch  outen  his 
har  wid  a  chip.  Den  Brer  Fox  know  dat  he  bin  swop  off 
mighty  bad.  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  bleedzed  fer  ter  fling 
back  some  er  his  sass,  en  he  holler  out: 

"'Bred  en  bawn  in  a  brier-patch,  Brer  Fox— bred 
en  bawn  in  a  brier-patch!'  en  wid  dat  he  skip  out  des 
ez  lively  ez  a  cricket  in  de  embers." 


20 


LEGENDS   OF   THE   OLD  PLANTATION 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  DELUGE  AND  HOW  IT 
CAME  ABOUT 

"ONE  time,"  said  Uncle  Remus— adjusting  his  spec 
tacles  so  as  to  be  able  to  see  how  to  thread  a  large 
darning-needle  with  which  he  was  patching  his  coat— 
"one  time,  way  back  yander,  'fo'  you  wuz  borned, 
honey,  en  'fo'  Mars  John  er  Miss  Sally  wuz  borned— 
way  back  yander  'f  o'  enny  un  us  wuz  borned,  de  ane- 
mils  en  de  creeturs  sorter  'lecshuneer  roun'  'mong 
deyselves,  twel  at  las'  dey  'greed  fer  ter  have  a  'sem- 
bly.  In  dem  days,"  continued  the  old  man,  observing 


a  look  of  incredulity  on  the  little  boy's  face,  "in  dem 
days  creeturs  had  lots  mo'  sense  dan  dey  got  now; 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  DELUGE  21 

let  lone  dat,  dey  had  sense  same  like  folks.  Hit  was 
tech  en  go  wid  um,  too,  mon,  en  w'en  dey  make  up 
der  mines  w'at  hatter  be  done,  'twant  mo'n  men- 
shun'd  'fo'  hit  wuz  done.  Well,  dey  lected  dat  dey 
hatter  hole  er  'sembly  fer  ter  sorter  straighten  out 
marters  en  hear  de  complaints,  en  w'en  de  day  come 
dey  wuz  on  han'.  De  Lion,  he  wuz  dar,  kase  he  wuz 
de  king,  en  he  hatter  be  der.  De  Rhynossyhoss,  he 
wuz  dar,  en  de  Elephent,  he  wuz  dar,  en  de  Cammils, 
en  de  Cows,  en  plum  down  ter  de  Crawfishes,  dey 
wuz  dar.  Dey  wuz  all  dar.  En  w'en  de  Lion  shuck 
his  mane,  en  tuck  his  seat  in  de  big  cheer,  den  de 
sesshun  begun  fer  ter  commence." 

"What  did  they  do,  Uncle  Remus?"  asked  the  little 
boy. 

"I  can't  skacely  call  to  mine  'zackly  w'at  dey  did 
do,  but  dey  spoke  speeches,  en  hollered,  en  cusst,  en 
flung  der  langwidge  'roun'  des  like  w'en  yo'  daddy 
wuz  gwineter  run  fer  de  legislator  en  got  lef .  How- 
somever,  dey  'ranged  der  'fairs,  en  splained  der  biz- 
ness.  Bimeby,  w'ile  dey  wuz  'sputin'  longer  one  er 
nudder,  de  Elephent  trompled  on  one  er  de  Craw^ 
fishes.  Co'se  w'en  dat  creetur  put  his  foot  down5 
w'atsumever's  under  dar  wuz  boun'  fer  ter  be 
squshed,  en  dey  wa'n't  miff  er  dat  Crawfish  lef  fer 
ter  tell  dat  he'd  bin  dar. 

"Dis  make  de  udder  Crawfishes  mighty  mad,  en 
dey  sorter  swarmed  tergedder  en  draw'd  up  a  kinder 


22       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

peramble  wid  some  wharfo'es  in  it,  en  read  her  out  in 
de  'sembly.  But,  bless  grashus!  sech  a  racket  wuz  a 
gwine  on  dat  nobody  ain't  hear  it,  'ceppin  may  be  de 
Mud  Turkic  en  de  Spring  Lizzud,  en  dere  enfloons 
wuz  pow'ful  lackin'. 

"Bimeby,  w'iles  de  Nunicorn  wuz  'sputin'  wid  de 
Lion,  en  w'ile  de  Hyener  wuz  a  laughin'  ter  hisse'f ,  de 
Elephent  squshed  anudder  one  er  de  Crawfishes,  en  a 
little  mo'n  he'd  er  mint  de  Mud  Turkic.  Den  de 
Crawfishes,  w'at  dey  wuz  lef  un  um,  swarmed  ter- 
gedder  en  draw'd  up  anudder  peramble  wid  sum  mo' 
wharfo'es;  but  dey  might  ez  well  er  sung  Ole  Dan 
Tucker  ter  a  harrycane.  De  udder  creeturs  wuz  too 
busy  wid  der  fussin'  fer  ter  'spon'  unto  de  Crawfishes. 
So  dar  dey  wuz,  de  Crawfishes,  en  dey  didn't  know 
w'at  minnit  wuz  gwineter  be  de  nex';  en  dey  kep'  on 
gittin  madder  en  madder  en  skeerder  en  skeerder, 
twel  bimeby  dey  gun  de  wink  ter  de  Mud  Turkic  en 
de  Spring  Lizzud,  en  den  dey  bo'd  little  holes  in  de 
groun'  en  went  down  outer  sight." 

"Who  did,  Uncle  Remus?"  asked  the  little  boy. 

"De  Crawfishes,  honey.  Dey  bo'd  inter  de  groun' 
en  kep'  on  bo'in  twel  dey  onloost  de  fountains  er  de 
earf ;  en  de  waters  squirt  out,  en  riz  higher  en  higher 
twel  de  hills  wuz  kiwered,  en  de  creeturs  wuz  all 
clrownded;  en  all  bekaze  dey  let  on  5mong  deyselves 
dat  dey  wuz  bigger  dan  de  Crawfishes." 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  DELUGE  23 

Then  the  old  man  blew  the  ashes  from  a  smoking 
yam,  and  proceeded  to  remove  the  peeling. 


"Where  was  the  ark,  Uncle  Remus?"  the  little  boy 
inquired,  presently. 

"W'ich  ark's  dat?"  asked  the  old  man,  in  a  tone  of 
well-feigned  curiosity. 

"Noah's  ark,"  replied  the  child. 

"Don't  you  pester  wid  ole  man  Noah,  honey.  I 
boun'  he  tuck  keer  er  dat  ark.  Dat's  w'at  he  wuz  dar 
fer,  en  dat's  w'at  he  done.  Leas'ways,  dat's  w'at  dey 
tells  me.  But  don't  you  bodder  longer  dat  ark,  'ceppin* 
your  mammy  fetches  it  up.  Dey  mout  er  bin  two 
deloojes,  en  den  agin  dey  moutent.  Ef  dey  wuz  enny 
ark  i*>  dish  yer  w'at  de  Crawfishes  brung  on,  I  ain't 


24  LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

heern  tell  un  it,  en  w'en  dey  ain't  no  arks  roun',  I  ain't 
got  no  time  fer  ter  make  um  en  put  um  in  dar.  Hit's 
gittin'  yo'  bedtime,  honey." 


VI 

MR.  RABBIT  GROSSLY  DECEIVES  MR.  FOX 

ONE  evening  when  the  little  boy,  whose  nights  with 
Uncle  Remus  were  as  entertaining  as  those  Arabian 
ones  of  blessed  memory,  had  finished  supper  and  hur 
ried  out  to  sit  with  his  venerable  patron,  he  found  the 
old  man  in  great  glee.  Indeed,  Uncle  Remus  was  talk- 
Ing  and  laughing  to  himself  at  such  a  rate  that  the 
little  boy  was  afraid  he  had  company.  The  truth  is, 
Uncle  Remus  had  heard  the  child  coming,  and,  when 
the  rosy-cheeked  chap  put  his  head  in  at  the  door, 
was  engaged  in  a  monologue,  the  burden  of  which 
seemed  to  be— 

"Ole  Molly  Har', 
Wat  you  doin'  dar, 
Settin'  in  de  cornder 
Smokin'  yo*  seegyar?" 

As  a  matter  of  course  this  vague  allusion  reminded 
the  little  boy  of  the  fact  that  the  wicked  Fox  was  still 
in  pursuit  of  the  Rabbit,  and  he  immediately  put  his 
curiosity  in  the  shape  of  a  question. 

"Uncle  Remus,  did  the  Rabbit  have  to  go  clean 


MR.  RABBIT  GROSSLY  DECEIVES  MR.  FOX     25 

away    when   he    got   loose   from    the   Tar-Baby?" 

"Bless  gracious,  honey,  dat  he  didn't.  Who?  Him? 
You  dunno  nuthin'  'tall  t>out  Brer  Rabbit  ef  dat's  de 
way  you  puttin'  'im  down.  Wat  he  gwine  'way  fer? 
He  moughter  stayed  sorter  close  twel  de  pitch  rub 
ofFn  his  ha'r,  but  tweren't  menny  days  'fo'  he  wuz 
lopin'  up  en  down  de  neighborhood  same  ez  ever, 
en  I  dunno  ef  he  weren't  mo*  sassier  dan  befo'. 

"Seem  like  dat  de  tale  *bout  how  he  got  mixt  up 
wid  de  Tar-Baby  got  'roun'  'mongst  de  nabers.  Leas'- 
ways,  Miss  Meadows  en  de  gals  got  win'  un'  it,  en 
de  nex'  time  Brer  Rabbit  paid  um  a  visit  Miss 
Meadows  tackled  'im  T^out  it,  en  de  gals  sot  up  a 
monstus  gigglement.  Brer  Rabbit,  he  sot  up  des  ez 
cool  ez  a  cowcumber,  he  did,  en  let  'em  run  on." 

"Who  was  Miss  Meadows,  Uncle  Remus?"  inquired 
the  little  boy. 

"Don't  ax  me,  honey.  She  wuz  in  de  tale,  Miss 
Meadows  en  de  gals  wuz,  en  de  tale  I  give  you  like 
hi't  wer'  gun  ter  me.  Brer  Rabbit,  he  sot  dar,  he  did, 
sorter  lam'  like,  en  den  bimeby  he  cross  his  legs,  he 
did,  and  wink  his  eye  slow,  en  up  and  say,  sezee: 

"  'Ladies,  Brer  Fox  wuz  my  daddy's  ridin'-hoss  fer 
thirty  year;  maybe  mo',  but  thirty  year  dat  I  knows 
un,'  sezee;  en  den  he  paid  um  his  'specks,  en  tip  his 
beaver,  en  march  off,  he  did,  des  ez  stiff  en  ez  stuck 
up  ez  a  fire-stick. 

"Nex'  day,  Brer  Fox  cum  a  calling  and  w'en  he  gun 


20       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

fer  ter  laugh  lout  Brer  Rabbit,  Miss  Meadows  en( 
de  gals,  dey  ups  en  tells  'im  'bout  w'at  Brer  Rabbit 

Jay.  Den  Brer  Fox 

.  ^  grit  his  tushes  sho' 

nuff,  he  did,  en  he 
look  mighty 
dumpy,  but  w'en 
he  riz  fer  ter  go 
he  up  en  say, 
sezee: 

"'Ladies,  I  ain't 
'sputin'  w'at  you 
say,  but  I'll  make 
Brer  Rabbit  chaw 
up  his  words  en 
spit  urn  out  right 
yer  whar  you  kin 
see  'im,'  sezee,  en 
wid  dat  off  Brer 
Fox  put. 

"En  w'en  he  got 
in  de  big  road,  he 
'shuck  de  dew  ofFn 
his  tail,  en  made 
a  straight  shoot 
fer  Brer  Rabbit's  house.  W'en  he  got  dar,  Brer  Rabbit 
wuz  spectin'  un  'im,  en  de  do'  wuz  shet  fas'.  Brer 
Fox  knock.  Nobody  ain't  ans'er.  Brer  Fox  knock. 


MR.   RABBIT  GROSSLY  DECEIVES   MR.   FOX  27 

Nobody  ans'er.  Den  he  knock  agin— blam!  blam!  Den 
Brer  Rabbit  holler  out  mighty  weak: 

"Is  dat  you,  Brer  Fox?  I  want  you  ter  run  en 
fetch  de  doctor.  Dat  bait  er  pusly  w'at  I  e't  dis 
mawnin'  is  gittin'  'way  wid  me.  Do,  please,  Brer  Fox, 
run  quick,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee. 

"1  come  atter  you,  Brer  Rabbit,'  sez  Brer  Fox, 
sezee.  'Dar's  gwineter  be  a  party  up  at  Miss  Mead' 
ows V  sezee.  'All  de  gals  11  be  dere,  en  I  promus'  dat 
I'd  fetch  you.  De  gals,  dey  lowed  dat  hit  wouldn't  be 
no  party  'ceppin'  I  fotch  you,'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"Den  Brer  Rabbit  say  he  wuz  too  sick,  en  Brer 
Fox  say  he  wuzzent,  en  dar  dey  had  it  up  and  down, 
'sputin'  en  contendin'.  Brer  Rabbit  say  he  can't  walk. 
Brer  Fox  say  he  tote  'im.  Brer  Rabbit  say  how?  Brer 
Fox  say  in  his  arms.  Brer  Rabbit  say  he  drap  'im. 
Brer  Fox  low  he  won't.  Bimeby  Brer  Rabbit  say  he 
go  ef  Brer  Fox  tote  'im  on  his  back.  Brer  Fox  say  he 
would.  Brer  Rabbit  say  he  can't  ride  widout  a  saddle. 
Brer  Fox  say  he  git  de  saddle.  Brer  Rabbit  say  he 
can't  set  in  saddle  less  he  have  bridle  fer  ter  hoi*  by. 
Brer  Fox  say  he  git  de  bridle.  Brer  Rabbit  say  he 
can't  ride  widout  bline  bridle,  kaze  Brer  Fox  be 
shyin'  at  stumps  long  de  road,  en  fling  'im  off.  Brer 
Fox  say  he  git  bline  bridle.  Den  Brer  Rabbit  say  he 
go.  Den  Brer  Fox  say  he  ride  Brer  Rabbit  mos'  up 
ter  Miss  Meadows's,  en  den  he  could  git  down  en 
walk  d«*  balance  er  de  way.  Brer  Rabbit  'greed,  en 


28 


LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


den  Brer  Fox  lipt  out  atter  de  saddle  en  de  bridle. 
"Co'se  Brer  Rabbit  know  de  game  dat  Brer  Fox 
wuz  fixin'  f er  ter  play,  en  he  'termin'  f er  ter  outdo  'im, 
en  by  de  time  he  koam  his  ha'r  en  twis*  his  mustarsh, 
en  sorter  rig  up,  yer  come  Brer  Fox,  saddle  en  bridle 


on,  en  lookin'  ez  peart  ez  a  circus  pony.  He  trot  up 
ter  de  do*  en  stan*  dar  pawin*  de  ground  en  chompin7 
de  bit  same  like  sho  'nuff  hoss,  en  Brer  Rabbit  he 
mount,  he  did,  en  dey  amble  off.  Brer  Fox  can't  see 
behime  wid  de  bline  bridle  on,  but  bimeby  he  feel 
Brer  Rabbit  raise  one  er  his  foots. 
"  Wat  you  doin'  now.  Brer  Rabbit?'  sezee. 


MR.   RABBIT  GROSSLY  DECEIVES   MR.   FOX  29 

"Short'nin'  de  lef  stir'p,  Brer  Fox,'  sezee. 

"Bimeby  Brer  Rabbit  raise  up  de  udder  foot. 

"  Wat  you  doin'  now,  Brer  Babbit?'  sezee. 

"  Tullin'  down  my  pants,  Brer  Fox,'  sezee. 

"All  de  time,  bless  grashus,  honey,  Brer  Babbit 
wer  puttin'  on  his  spurrers,  en  w'en  dey  got  close  to 
Miss  Meadows's,  whar  Brer  Babbit  wuz  to  git  off,  en 
Brer  Fox  made  a  motion  fer  ter  stan'  still,  Brer  Babbit 
slap  de  spurrers  into  Brer  Fox  flanks,  en  you  better 
bleeve  he  got  over  groun'.  Wen  dey  got  ter  de  house, 
Miss  Meadows  en  all  de  gals  wuz  settin'  on  de 
peazzer,  en  stidder  stoppin'  at  de  gate,  Brer  Babbit 
rid  on  by,  he  did,  en  den  come  gallopin'  down  de 
road  en  up  ter  de  hoss-rack,  w'ich  he  hitch  Brer  Fox 
at,  en  den  he  santer  inter  de  house,  he  did,  en  shake 
han's  wid  de  gals,  en  set  dar,  smokin'  his  seegyar  same 
ez  a  town  man.  Bimeby  he  draw  in  a  long  puff,  en 
den  let  hit  out  in  a  cloud,  en  squar  hisse'f  back  en 
holler  out,  he  did: 

"'Ladies,  ain't  I  done  tell  you  Brer  Fox  wuz  de 
ridin'-hoss  fer  our  fambly?  He  sorter  losin'  his  gait 
now,  but  I  speck  I  kin  fetch  'im  all  right  in  a  rnont' 
er  so,'  sezee. 

"En  den  Brer  Rabbit  sorter  grin,  he  did,  en  de  gals 
giggle,  en  Miss  Meadows,  she  praise  up  de  pony,  en 
dar  wuz  Brer  Fox  hitch  fas'  ter  de  rack,  en  couldn't 
he  p  hisse'f ." 


30       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

"Is  that  all,"  Uncle  Remus?"  asked  the  little  boy 
as  the  old  man  paused. 

"Dat  ain't  all,  honey,  but  'twon't  do  fer  ter  give 
out  too  much  cloff  fer  ter  cut  one  pa  r  pants,"  replied 
the  old  man  sententiously. 


vn 
MR.  FOX  IS  AGAIN  VICTIMIZED 

\VHEN  "Miss  Sallys"  little  boy  went  to  Uncle 
Remus  the  next  night  to  hear  the  conclusion  of  the 
adventure  in  which  the  Rabbit  made  a  riding-horse  of 
the  Fox  to  the  great  enjoyment  and  gratification  of 
Miss  Meadows  and  the  girls,  he  found  the  old  man  iit 
a  bad  humor. 

"I  ain't  tellin'  no  tales  ter  bad  chilluns,"  said  Uncle 
Remus  curtly. 

"But,  Uncle  Remus,  I  ain't  bad,"  said  the  little  boy 
plaintively. 

"Who  dat  chunkin'  dem  chickens  dis  mawnin'? 
Who  dat  knockin'  out  f okes's  eyes  wid  dat  Yallerbam- 
mer  sling  des  'fo'  dinner?  Who  dat  sickin'  dat  pinter 
puppy  atter  my  pig?  Who  dat  scatter-in*  my  ingun 
sets?  Who  dat  flingin'  rocks  on  top  er  my  house, 
w'ich  a  little  mo'  en  one  un  em  would  er  drap  spang 
on  my  head?" 

"Well,  now,  Uncle  Remus,  I  didn't  go  to  do  it.  I 
won't  do  so  any  more.  Please,  Uncle  Remus,  if  you 


MR.   FOX  IS   AGAIN  VICTIMIZED  31 

will  tell  me,  I'll  run  to  the  house  and  bring  you  some 
tea-cakes." 

"Seein*  urn's  better'n  hearin'  tell  un  um,"  replied 
the  old  man,  the  severity  of  his  countenance  relaxing 
somewhat;  but  the  little  boy  darted  out,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  came  running  back  with  his  pockets  full  and 
his  hands  full. 

"I  lay  yo'  mammy  11  'spishun  dat  de  rats*  stum- 
mucks  is  widenin'  in  dis  neighborhood  w'en  she  come 
fer  ter  count  up  'er  cakes,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  with  a 
chuckle.  "Deze,"  he  continued,  dividing  the  cakes  into 
two  equal  parts— "dese  I'll  tackle  now,  en  dese  111  lay 
by  fer  Sunday. 

"Lemme  see.  I  mos'  dis'member  wharbouts  Brer 
Fox  en  Brer  Rab 
bit  wuz." 

"The  rabbit  rode 
the  fox  to  Miss 
Meadows's,  and 
hitched  him  to  the 
horse-rack," 
the  little  boy. 

"Wy  co'se  he 
did,"  said  Uncle 
Remus.  "C'ose  he 
did.  Well,  Brer 
Rabbit  rid  Brer  Fox  up,  he  did,  en  tied  'irn  to  de 
rack  en  den  sot  out  in  de  peazzer  wid  de  gals  a 


32  LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

smokin'  er  his  seegyar  wid  mo'  proudness  dan  w'at 
you  mos'  ever  see.  Dey  talk,  en  dey  sing,  en  dey 
play  on  de  peanner,  de  gals  did,  twel  bimeby  hit 
come  time  fer  Brer  Rabbit  fer  to  be  gwine,  en  he 
tell  um  all  good-by,  en  strut  out  to  de  hoss-rack 
same's  ef  he  wuz  de  king  er  de  patter-rollers,*  en 
den  he  mount  Brer  Fox  en  ride  off. 

"Brer  Fox  ain't  sayin'  nuthin'  'tall.  He  des  rack 
off,  he  did,  en  keep  his  mouf  shet,  en  Brer  Rabbit 
know'd  der  wuz  bizness  cookin'  up  fer  him,  en  he 
feel  monstus  skittish.  Brer  Fox  amble  on  twel  he  git 
in  de  long  lane,  outer  sight  er  Miss  Meadows's  house, 
en  den  he  tu'n  loose,  he  did.  He  rip  en  he  ra'r,  en  he 
cuss,  en  he  swar;  he  snort  en  he  cavort." 

"What  was  he  doing  that  for,  Uncle  Remus?"  the 
little  boy  inquired. 

'He  wuz  tryin'  fer  ter  fling  Brer  Rabbit  off'n  his 
back,  bless  yo'  soul!  But  he  des  might  ez  well  er 
rastle  wid  his  own  shadder.  Every  time  he  hump 
hisse'f  Brer  Rabbit  slap  de  spurrers  in  'im,  en  dar  dey 
had  it,  up  en  down.  Brer  Fox  fa'rly  to'  up  de  groun' 
he  did,  en  he  jump  so  high  en  he  jump  so  quick  dat 
he  mighty  rdgh  snatch  his  own  tail  off.  Dey  kep'  on 

*  Patrols.  In  the  country  districts,  order  was  kept  on  the  plan 
tations  at  night  by  the  knowledge  that  they  were  liable  to  be 
visited  at  any  moment  by  the  patrols.  Hence  a  song  current  among 
the  negroes,  the  chorus  of  which  was: 

"Run,  nigger,  run;  patter-roller  ketch  you— 
Run,  nigger,  run;  hit's  almos*  day." 


'En  den  he  tu'n  loose,  he  did." 


MR.   FOX  IS   AGAIN  VICTIMIZED 


33 


gwine  on  dis  way  twel  bimeby  Brer  Fox  lay  down  en 
roll  over,  he  did,  en  dis  sorter  onsettle  Brer  Rabbit, 

but  by  de  time  Brer  Fox 
got  back  on  his  footses 
agin,  Brer  Rabbit  wuz 
gwine  thoo  de  underbresh 
mo*  samer  dan  a  race-hoss. 
Brer  Fox  he  lit  out  atter 
'im,  he  did,  en  he  push 
Brer  Rabbit  so  close  dat  it 
wuz  'bout  all  he  could  do 
fer  ter  git  in  a  holler  tree. 
Hole  too  little  fer  Brer 
Fox  fer  ter  git  in,  en  he 
hatter  lay  down  en  res 
en  gedder  his  mine  terged- 
der. 

"While  he  wuz  layin' 
dar,  Mr.  Buzzard  come 
f  1  o  p  p  in* 
9 1  o  n  g ,  en 
seein'  Brer 
Fox  stretch 
out  on  de 


54  LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

groun',  he  lit  en  view  de  premusses.  Den  Mr.  Buz 
zard  sorter  shake  his  wing,  en  put  his  head  on  one 
side,  en  say  to  hisse'f  like,  sezee: 

"  'Brer  Fox  dead,  en  I  so  sorry,'  sezee. 

"  'No  I  ain't  dead,  nudder,'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee.  "I 
got  ole  man  Rabbit  pent  up  in  yer,'  sezee,  'en  I'm 
a  gwine  ter  git  'im  dis  time  ef  it  take  twel  Chris'mus,* 
sezee. 

"Den,  atter  some  mo'  palaver,  Brer  Fox  make  a 
bargain  dat  Mr.  Buzzard  wuz  ter  watch  de  hole,  en 
keep  Brer  Rabbit  dar  wiles  Brer  Fox  went  atter  his 
axe.  Den  Brer  Fox,  he  lope  off,  he  did,  en  Mr.  Buz 
zard,  he  tuck  up  his  stan'  at  de  hole.  Bimeby,  w'en 
all  git  still,  Brer  Rabbit  sorter  scramble  down  close 
ter  de  hole,  he  did,  en  holler  out: 

"  'Brer  Fox!  Oh!  Brer  Fox!' 

"Brer  Fox  done  gone,  en  nobody  say  nuthin*.  Den 
Brer  Rabbit  squall  out  like  he  wuz  mad;  sezee: 

'  'You  needn't  talk  less  you  wanter,'  sezee;  'I  knows 
youer  dar,  en  I  ain't  keerin','  sezee.  'I  des  wanter  tell 
you  dat  I  wish  mighty  bad  Brer  Tukkey  Buzzard 
wuz  here,'  sezee. 

"Den  Mr.  Buzzard  try  ter  talk  like  Brer  Fox: 

:<  Wat  you  want  wid  Mr.  Buzzard?'  sezee. 

"  'Oh,  nuthin'  in  'tickler,  'cep'  dere's  de  f  attes'  gray 
squirl  in  yer  dat  ever  I  see,'  sezee,  'en  ef  Brer  Tide- 
key  Buzzard  wuz  Voun'  he'd  be  mighty  glad  fer  ter 
git  'im,'  sezee. 


MR.    FOX   IS   AGAIN  VICTIMIZED 


35 


"'How  Mr.  Buzzard  gwine  ter  git  'im?'  sez  de 
Buzzard,  sezee. 

"  Well,  dar's  a  little  hole  roun'  on  de  udder  side 
er  de  tree/  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee,  'en  ef  Brer  Tukkey 


Buzzard  wuz  here  so  he  could  take  up  his  stan'  dar,' 
sezee,  I'd  drive  dat  squirl  out,'  sezee. 

"'Drive  'im  out,  den,'  sez  Mr.  Buzzard,  sezee,  'en 
I'll  see  dat  Brer  Tukkey  Buzzard  gits  'im,'  sezee. 

"Den  Brer  Rabbit  kick  up  a  racket,  like  he  wer' 
drivin'  sumpin'  out,  en  Mr.  Buzzard  he  rush  'roun' 
fer  ter  ketch  de  squirl,  en  Brer  Rabbit,  he  dash  out, 
he  did,  en  he  des  fly  fer  home.'' 

At  this  point  Uncle  Remus  took  one  of  the  tea- 


86       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

cakes,  held  his  head  back,  opened  his  mouth, 
dropped  the  cake  in  with  a  sudden  motion,  looked 
at  the  little  boy  with  an  expression  of  astonishment, 
and  then  closed  his  eyes,  and  begun  to  chew,  mum 
bling  as  an  accompaniment  the  plaintive  tune  of 
"Don't  you  Grieve  atter  Me." 

The  seance  was  over;  but,  before  the  little  boy 
went  into  the  "big  house,"  Uncle  Remus  laid  his 
rough  hand  tenderly  on  the  child's  shoulder,  and  re 
marked,  in  a  confidential  tone: 

"Honey,  you  mus'  git  up  soon  Chris'mus  mawnin* 
en  open  de  do';  kase  I'm  gwineter  bounce  in  on 
Marse  John  en  Miss  Sally,  en  holler  Chris'mus  gif 
des  like  I  useter  endurin'  de  farmin'  days  fo'  de  war, 
w'en  ole  Miss  wuz  live.  I  bound'  dey  don't  fergit  de 
ole  nigger,  nudder.  W'en  you  hear  me  callin*  de 
pigs,  honey,  you  des  hop  up  en  onfassen  de  do'.  I 
lay  111  give  Marse  John  one  er  dese  yer  'sprize 
parties." 


vm 
MR.  FOX  IS  "OUTDONE"  BY  MR.  BUZZARD 

"Er  I  don't  run  inter  no  mistakes,"  remarked 
Uncle  Remus,  as  the  little  boy  came  tripping  in  to 
see  him  after  supper,  "Mr.  Tukkey  Buzzard  wuz 
gyardin'  de  holler  whar  Brer  Rabbit  went  in  at,  en 
w'ich  he  come  out  un." 


MR,  FOX  IS   OUTDONE  BY  MR.  BUZZARD 


37 


The  silence  of  the  little  boy  verified  the  old  man's 
recollection. 

"Well,  Mr.  Buzzard,  he  feel  mighty  lonesome,  he 
did,  but  he  done  prommust  Brer  Fox  dat  he'd  stay, 
en  he  'termin'  fer  ter  sorter  hang  'roun'  en  jine  in  de 
joke.  En  he  ain't  hatter  wait  long,  nudder,  kase  bime* 


by  yer  come  Brer  Fox  gallopin'  thoo  de  woods  wid 
his  axe  on  his  shoulder. 

"  How  you  speck  Brer  Rabbit  gittin*  on,  Brer  Buz 
zard?'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 


38       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

"'Oh,  he  in  dar,'  sez  Brer  Buzzard,  sezee.  'He 
mighty  still,  dough.  I  speck  he  takin'  a  nap,'  sezee. 

"'Den  I'm  des  in  time  fer  ter  wake  'im  up,'  sez 
Brer  Fox,  sezee.  En  wid  dat  he  fling  off  his  coat,  en 
spit  in  his  han's,  en  grab  de  axe.  Den  he  draw  back 
en  come  down  on  de  tree— pow!  En  eve'y  time  he 
come  down  wid  de  axe— pow!— Mr.  Buzzard,  he  step 
high,  he  did,  en  holler  out: 

"  'Oh,  he  in  dar,  Brer  Fox.  He  in  dar,  sho.' 

"En  eve'y  time  a  chip  ud  fly  off,  Mr.  Buzzard,  he'd 
jump,  en  dodge,  en  hole  his  head  sideways,  he  would, 
en  holler: 

"'He  in  dar,  Brer  Fox.  I  done  heerd  'im.  He  in 
dar,  sho/ 

"En  Brer  Fox,  he  lammed  away  at  dat  holler  tree, 
he  did,  like  a  man  maulin'  rails,  twel  bimeby,  atter  he 
done  got  de  tree  mos'  cut  thoo,  he  stop  fer  ter  ketch 
his  bref,  en  he  seed  Mr.  Buzzard  laughin'  behime  his 
back,  he  did,  en  right  den  en  dar,  widout  gwine  enny 
fudder,  Brer  Fox,  he  smelt  a  rat.  But  Mr.  Buzzard, 
he  keep  on  holler 'n: 

"'He  in  dar,  Brer  Fox.  He  in  dar,  sho.  I  done 
seed  'im.' 

"Den  Brer  Fox,  he  make  like  he  peepin*  up  de 
holler,  en  he  say,  sezee: 

"  'Run  yer,  Brer  Buzzard,  en  look  ef  dis  ain't  Brer 
Rabbit's  foot  hanging  down  yer.' 

"En  Mr.  Buzzard,  he  come  steppin'  up,  he  did, 


MR.  FOX  is  "OUTDONE*  BY  MR.  BUZZARD       39 

same  ez  ef  he  wer  treddin'  on  kurkle-burs,  en  he  stick 
his  head  in  de  hole;  en  no  sooner  did  he  done  dat  dan 
Brer  Fox  grab  'im.  Mr.  Buzzard  flap  his  wings,  en 
scramble  'roun'  right  smartually,  he  did,  but  'twant 
no  use.  Brer  Fox  had  de  Vantage  er  de  grip,  he  did, 
en  he  hilt  'im  right  down  ter  de  groun'.  Den  Mr. 
Buzzard  squall  out,  sezee: 

"'Lemme  'lone,  Brer  Fox.  Tu'n  me  loose/  sezee; 
'Brer  RabbitH  git  out.  Youer  gittin'  close  at  'im/ 
sezee,  'en  leb'm  mo'  licks'll  fetch  'im,'  sezee. 

"  I'm  nigher  ter  you,  Brer  Buzzard,'  sez  Brer  Fox, 
sezee,  'dan  111  be  ter  Brer  Rabbit  dis  day/  sezee. 
*Wa't  you  fool  me  fer?'  sezee. 

"  'Lemme  'lone,  Brer  Fox,'  sez  Mr.  Buzzard,  sezee; 
'my  ole  'oman  waitin'  fer  me.  Brer  Rabbit  in  dar/ 
sezee. 

"  'Dar's  a  bunch  er  his  fur  on  dat  black-be'y  bush/ 
sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee,  'en  dat  ain't  de  way  he  come,' 
sezee. 

"Den  Mr.  Buzzard  up'n  tell  Brer  Fox  how  'twuz, 
en  he  low'd,  Mr.  Buzzard  did,  dat  Brer  Rabbit  wuz 
de  lowdownest  w'atsizname  w'at  he  ever  run  up 
wid.  Den  Brer  Fox  say,  sezee: 

"  'Dat's  needer  here  ner  dar,  Brer  Buzzard/  sezee. 
1  lef  you  yer  fer  ter  watch  dish  yere  hole,  en  I  lef 
Brer  Rabbit  in  dar.  I  comes  back  en  I  fines  you  at  de 
'ole  en  Brer  Rabbit  ain't  in  dar/  sezee.  'I'm  gwineter 
make  you  pay  fer't.  I  done  bin  tampered  wid  twe! 


40 


LEGENDS   OF   THE   OLD  PLANTATION 


plum'  down  ter  de  sap  sucker'U  set  on  a  log  en  sassy 
me.  I'm  gwinter  fling  you  in  a  bresh-heap  en  burn 
you  up,'  sezee. 


;<<E£  you  fling  me  on  der  fier,  Brer  Fox,  111  fly 
'way,'  sez  Mr.  Buzzard,  sezee. 

"'Well,  den,  I'll  settle  yo'  hash  right  now,'  sez 
Brer  Fox,  sezee,  en  wid  dat  he  grab  Mr.  Buzzard  by 
de  tail,  he  did,  en  make  fer  ter  dash  'im  'gin  de 
groun',  but  des  'bout  dat  time  de  tail  fedders  come 


MISS   COW   FALLS  A  VICTIM   TO   MR.   RABBIT       41 

out,  en  Mr.  Buzzard  sail  off  like  one  er  dese  yer 
berloons;  en  ez  he  riz,  he  holler  back: 

'  'You  gimme  good  start,  Brer  Fox/  sezee,  en  Brer 
Fox  sot  dar  en  watch  'im  fly  outer  sight." 

"But  what  became  of  the  Rabbit,  Uncle  Remus?" 
asked  the  little  boy. 

"Don't  you  pester  'longer  Brer  Rabbit,  honey,  en 
don't  you  fret  'bout  'im.  You'll  year  whar  he  went 
en  how  he  come  out.  Dish  yer  cole  snap  rastles  wid 
my  bones,  now,"  continued  the  old  man,  putting  on 
his  hat  and  picking  up  his  walking-stick.  "Hit  rastles 
wid  me  monstus,  en  I  gotter  rack  'roun'  en  see  if  I 
kin  run  up  agin  some  Chris'mus  leavin's." 

IX 

MISS  COW  FALLS  A  VICTIM  TO  MR.  RABBIT 

"UNCLE  REMUS,"  said  the  little  boy,  "what  became 
of  the  Rabbit  after  he  fooled  the  Buzzard,  and  got 
out  of  the  hollow  tree?" 

"Who?  Brer  Rabbit?  Bless  yo'  soul,  honey,  Brer 
Rabbit  went  skippin'  'long  home,  he  did,  des  ez  sassy 
ez  a  jay-bird  at  a  sparrer's  nes'.  He  went  gallopin' 
'long,  he  did,  but  he  feel  mighty  tired  out,  en  stiff  in 
his  jints,  en  he  wuz  mighty  nigh  dead  for  sumpin  fer 
ter  drink,  en  bimeby,  w'en  he  got  mos'  home,  he 
spied  ole  Miss  Cow  feedin'  roun'  in  a  fiel',  he  did,  en 
he  'termin'  fer  ter  try  his  han'  wid  'er.  Brer  Rabbit 


42 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


know  mighty  well  dat  Miss  Cow  won't  give  'im  no 
milk,  kaze  she  done  'fuse  'im  mo'n  once,  en  w'en  his 
ole  'oman  wuz  sick,  at  dat.  But  never  mind  dat.  Brer 
Rabbit  sorter  dance  up  long  side  er  de  fence,  he  did. 
en  holler  out: 

"  'Howdy,  Sis  Cow,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee. 


"  Wy,  howdy,  Brer  Rabbit,'  sez  Miss  Cow,  sez  she. 

'"How  you  fine  yo'se'f  deze  days,  Sis  Cow?'  sez 
%er  Rabbit,  sezee, 

"  I'm  sorter  tolerate,  Brer  Rabbit;  how  you  come 
on?'  sez  Miss  Cow,  sez  she. 


MISS   COW   FALLS  A   VICTIM   TO   MR.   RABBIT        43 

*  'Oh,  I'm  des  tolerT^le  myse'f ,  Sis  Cow;  sorter  lin- 
ger'n'  twix'  a  bauk  en  a  break-down/  sez  Brer  Rabbit, 
sezee. 

"  'How  yo'  f okes,  Brer  Rabbit?'  sez  Miss  Cow,  sez 
she. 

"'Dey  er  des  middlin',  Sis  Cow;  how  Brer  BuU 
gittin'  on?'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee. 

"  'Sorter  so-so,'  sez  Miss  Cow,  sez  she. 

"  'Dey  er  some  mighty  nice  'simmons  up  dis  tree, 
Sis  Cow,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee,  'en  I'd  like  mighty 
well  fer  ter  have  some  un  um,'  sezee. 

"  'How  you  gwineter  git  um,  Brer  Rabbit?'  sez  she. 

"'I  lowed  maybe  dat  I  might  ax  you  fer  ter  butt 
'gin  de  tree,  en  shake  some  down,  Sis  Cow,'  sez  Brer 
Rabbit,  sezee. 

"C'ose  Miss  Cow  don't  wanter  diskommerdate  Brer 
Rabbit,  en  she  march  up  ter  de  'simmon  tree,  she 
did,  en  hit  it  a  rap  wid'er  horns— blam!  Now,  den," 
continued  Uncle  Remus,  tearing  off  the  corner  of  a 
plug  of  tobacco  and  cramming  it  into  his  mouth— 
"now,  den,  dem  'simmons  wuz  green  ez  grass,  en 
na'er  one  never  drap.  Den  Miss  Cow  butt  de  tree— 
blim!  Na'er  'simmon  drap.  Den  Miss  Cow  sorter 
back  off  little,  en  run  agin  de  tree— blip!  No  'sim 
mons  never  drap.  Den  Miss  Cow  back  off  little  f  ud 
der,  she  did,  en  hi'st  her  tail  on  'er  back,  en  come 
agin  de  tree,  kerblam!  en  she  come  so  fas',  en  she 
come  so  hard,  twel  one  'er  her  horns  went  spang  thoo 


44 


LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


de  tree,  en  dar  she  wuz.  She  can't  go  forreds,  en  she 
can't  go  backerds.  Dis  zackly  w'at  Brer  Rabbit  waitin' 

fer,  en  he  no  sooner 
seed  ole  Miss  Cow 
all  fas'en'd  up  dan 
he  jump  up,  he  did, 
en  cut  de  pidjin- 
wing. 


"  'Come  he'p  me  out, 
Brer  Rabbit,'  sez  Miss  -*^ 
Cow,  sez  she. 

"1  can't  clime,  Sis  •  .  J> 
Cow,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit, 
sezee,  *but  Til  run'n 
tell  Brer  Bull,'  sezee; 
en  wid  dat  Brer  Rab 
bit  put  out  fer  home, 
en  'twan't  long  'fo 
here  he  come  wid  his 
ole  'oman  en  all  his 
chilluns,  en  de  las'  one 
er  de  f ambly  wuz  totin' 
a  pail.  De  big  uns  had 
big  pails,  en  de  little  uns  had  little  pails.  En  dey  al) 
s'roundid  ole  Miss  Cow,  dey  did,  en  you  hear  me, 


MISS   COW   FALLS   A  VICTIM   TO  MR.   RABBIT       45 

honey,  dey  milk't  'er  dry.  De  ole  uns  milk't  en  de 
young  uns  milk't,  en  den  w'en  dey  done  got  miff, 
Brer  Rabbit,  he  up'n  say,  sezee: 

"  1  wish  you  mighty  well,  Sis  Cow.  I  low'd  bein's 
how  dat  you'd  hatter  sorter  camp  out  all  night  dat 
I'd  better  come  en  swaje  yo'  bag/  sezee." 

"Do  which,  Uncle  Remus?"  asked  the  little  boy. 

"Go  long,  honey!  Swaje  'er  bag.  Wen  cows  don't 
git  milk't,  der  bag  swells,  en  youk'n  hear  urn  a 
moanin'  en  a  beller'n  des  like  dey  wuz  gittin'  hurtid, 
Dat's  w'at  Brer  Rabbit  done.  He  'sembled  his  fambly, 
he  did,  en  he  swaje  ole  Miss  Cow's  bag. 

"Miss  Cow,  she  stood  dar,  she  did,  en  she  study  en 
study,  en  strive  fer  ter  break  loose,  but  de  horn  done 
bin  jam  in  de  tree  so  tight  dat  twuz  way  'f  o  day  in  de 
mornin'  'fo'  she  loose  it.  Anyhow  hit  wuz  endurin'  er 
de  night,  en  atter  she  git  loose  she  sorter  graze  'roun', 
she  did,  fer  ter  jestify  'er  stummuck  she  low'd,  ole 
Miss  Cow  did,  dat  Brer  Rabbit  be  hoppin'  long  dat 
way  fer  ter  see  how  she  gittin'  on,  en  she  tuck'n  lay  er 
trap  fer  'im;  en  des  'bout  sunrise  wat'd  ole  Miss  Cow 
do  but  march  up  ter  de  'simmon  tree  en  stick  er  horn 
back  in  de  hole?  But,  bless  yo'  soul,  honey,  w'ile  she 
wuz  croppin'  de  grass  she  tuck  one  moufull  too 
menny,  kaze  w'en  she  hitch  on  ter  de  'simmon  tree 
agin,  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  settin'  in  de  fence  cornder  a 
watchin'  un  'er.  Den  Brer  Rabbit  he  say  ter  hisse'f : 

"  'Heyo,'  sezee,  Vat  dis  yer  gwine  on  now?  Hole 


46 


LEGENDS   OF   THE   OLD  PLANTATION 


yo'  bosses,  Sis  Cow,  twel  you  hear  me  cominV  sezee. 

"En  den  he  crope  off  down  de  fence,  Brer  Rabbit 
did,  en  bimeby  here  he  come— lippity-clippity,  clip- 
pity-lippity— des  a  sailin'  down  de  big  road. 

"'Mornin',  Sis  Cow,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee,  liow 
you  come  on  dis  mornin'?'  sezee. 


"  'Poly,  Brer  Rabbit,  po'ly/  sez  Miss  Cow,  sez  she. 
'I  ain't  had  no  res*  all  night/  sez  she.  1  can't  pull 
loose,'  sez  she,  *but  ef  you'll  come  en  ketch  holt  er  my 
tail,  Brer  Rabbit/  sez  she,  1  reckin  may  be  I  kin  fetch 
my  horn  out/  sez  she.  Den  Brer  Rabbit,  he  come  up 
little  closer,  but  he  ain't  gittin'  too  close. 

"  'I  speck  I'm  nigh  nuff ,  Sis  Cow/  sez  Brer  Rabbit, 
sezee.  I'm  a  mighty  puny  man,  en  I  might  git 
trompled/  sezee.  'You  do  de  pullin',  Sis  Cow/  sezee, 
'en  111  do  de  gruntin'/  sezee. 

"Den  Miss  Cow,  she  pull  out  'er  horn,  she  did,  en 
tuck  atter  Brer  Rabbit,  en  down  de  big  road  dey  had 
it,  Brer  Rabbit  wid  his  years  laid  back,  en  Miss  Cow 
wid  'er  head  down  en  'er  tail  curl.  Brer  Rabbit  kep' 


MR.  TERRAPIN  APPEARS  UPON  THE  SCENE    47 

on  gainin',  en  bimeby  he  dart  in  a  brier-patch,  en  by 
de  time  Miss  Cow  come  long  he  had  his  head  stickin' 
out,  en  his  eyes  look  big  ez  Miss  Sally's  chany  sassers. 

'"Heyo,  Sis  Cow!  Whar  you  gwine?'  sez  Brer 
Rabbit,  sezee. 

"'Howdy,  Brer  Big-Eyes,'  sez  Miss  Cow,  sez  she. 
Is  you  seed  Brer  Babbit  go  by?' 

"'He  des  dis  minit  pass/  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee, 
'en  he  look  mighty  sick/  sezee. 

"En  wid  dat,  Miss  Cow  tuck  down  de  road  like  de 
dogs  wuz  atter  'er,  en  Brer  Rabbit,  he  des  lay  down 
dar  in  de  brier-patch  en  roll  en  laugh  twel  his  sides 
hurtid  'im.  He  bleedzd  ter  laff.  Fox  atter  'im,  Buzzard 
atter  'im,  en  Cow  atter  'im,  en  dey  ain't  kotch  'im  yit" 


MR.  TERRAPIN  APPEARS  UPON  THE  SCENE 

"Miss  SALLY'S"  little  boy  again  occupying  the  anx 
ious  position  of  auditor,  Uncle  Remus  took  the  shovel 
and  "put  de  noses  er  de  chunks  tergedder,"  as  he  ex 
pressed  it,  and  then  began: 

"One  day,  atter  Sis  Cow  done  run  pas'  'er  own 
shadder  tryin'  fer  ter  ketch  'im.  Brer  Rabbit  tuck'n 
low  dat  he  wuz  gwineter  drap  in  en  see  Miss  Mead 
ows  en  de  gals,  en  he  got  out  his  piece  er  lookin'-glass 
en  primp  up,  he  did,  en  sot  out.  Gwine  canterin* 
long  de  road,  who  should  Brer  Rabbit  run  up  wid 


48 


LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


but  ole  Brer  Tarrypin— de  same  ole  one-en-sixpunce. 
Brer  Rabbit  stop,  he  did,  en  rap  on  de  roof  er  Brer 
Tarrypin  house." 

"On  the  roof  of  his  house,  Uncle  Remus?"  inter 
rupted  the  little  boy. 

"Co'se  honey,  Brer  Tarrypin  kare  his  house  wid 
5im.  Rain  er  shine,  hot  er  cole,  strike  up  wid  ole  Brer 


Tarrypin  w'en  you  will  en  w'ilst  you  may,  en  whar 
you  fine  'im,  dar  you'll  fine  his  shanty.  Hit's  des  like 
I  tell  you.  So  den!  Brer  Rabbit  he  rap  on  de  roof  er 
Brer  Tarrypin's  house,  he  did,  en  ax  wuz  he  in,  en 
Brer  Tarrypin  'low  dat  he  wuz,  en  den  Brer  Rabbit 


MR.  TERRAPIN  APPEARS  UPON  THE  SCENE    49 

he  ax  'im  howdy,  en  den  Brer  Tarrypin  he  likewise 
'spon*  howdy,  en  den  Brer  Rabbit  he  say  whar  wuz 
Brer  Tarrypin  gwine,  en  Brer  Tarrypin,  he  say  w'ich 
he  wern't  gwine  nowhar  skasely.  Den  Brer  Rabbit 
'low  he  wuz  on  his  way  fer  ter  see  Miss  Meadows  en 
de  gals,  en  he  ax  Brer  Tarrypin  ef  he  won't  jine  in  en 
go  long,  en  Brer  Tarrypin  'spon'  he  don't  keer  ef  he 
do,  en  den  dey  sot  out.  Dey  had  plenty  er  time  fer 
conf  abbin'  long  de  way,  but  bimeby  dey  got  dar,  en 
Miss  Meadows  en  de  gals  dey  come  ter  de  do',  dey 
did,  en  ax  um  in,  en  in  dey  went. 

"Wen  de  r  got  in,  Brer  Tarrypin  wuz  so  flat-footed 
dat  he  wuz  too  low  on  de  flo',  en  he  wern't  high  miff 
in  a  cheer,  but  while  dey  wuz  all  scrambling'  'roun' 
tryin'  fer  ter  git  Brer  Tarr^-pin  a  cheer,  Brer  Rabbit, 
he  pick  'im  up  en  put  'im  on  de  shelf  whar  de  water- 
bucket  sot,  en  ole  Brer  Tarrypin,  he  lay  back  up  dar, 
he  did,  des  es  proud  ez  a  nigger  wid  a  cook  'possum. 

"Co'se  de  talk  fell  on  Brer  Fox,  en  Miss  Meadows 
en  de  gals  make  a  great  'miration  'bout  w'at  a  gaily 
ridin'-hoss  Brer  Fox  wuz,  en  dey  make  lots  er  fun,  en 
laugh  en  giggle  same  like  gals  duz  deze  days.  Brer 
Habbit,  he  sot  dar  in  de  cheer  smokin'  his  seegyar,  en 
he  sorter  kler  up  his  th'oat,  en  say,  sezee: 

"I'd  er  rid  'im  over  dis  mawnin',  ladies/  sezee. 
*but  I  rid  'im  so  hard  yistiddy  dat  he  went  lame  in 
de  off  f o'  leg,  en  I  speck  I'll  hatter  swop  *im  off  yit," 
sezee. 


50  LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

"Den  Brer  Tarrypin,  he  up'n  say,  sezee: 

"  Well,  ef  you  gwinter  sell  'im,  Brer  Rabbit,'  sezee, 
'sell  him  some'rs  outen  dis  naberhood,  kase  he  done 
bin  yer  too  long  now,'  sezee.  'No  longer'n  day  'fo' 
yistiddy,'  sezee,  'Brer  Fox  pass  me  on  de  road,  en 
whatter  you  reckin  he  say?'  sezee: 

"  'Law,  Brer  TarrypuV  Sez  Miss  Meadows,  sez  she, 
you  don't  mean  ter  say  he  cust?*  sez  she,  en  den  de 
gals  hilt  der  fans  up  f q'  der  faces. 

"'Oh,  no,  ma'm,'  sez  Brer  Tarrypin,  sezee,  *he 
didn't  cust,  but  he  holler  out-"Heyo,  Stinkin'  Jim!"' 
sezee. 

'"Oh,  my!  You  hear  dat,  gals?'  sez  Miss  Meadows. 


sez  she;  'Brer  Fox  call  Brer  Tarrypin  Stinkin'  Jim,' 
sez  she,  en  den  Miss  Meadows  en  de  gals  make  great 


MR.   TERRAPIN  APPEARS  UPON  THE  SCENE         51 

wonderment  how  Brer  Fox  kin  talk  dat  a  way  *bout 
nice  man  like  Brer  Tarrypin. 

"But  bless  grashus,  honey!  w'ilst  all  dis  gwine  on, 
Brer  Fox  wuz  stannin'  at  de  back  do'  wid  one  year  at 
de  cat-hole  lissenin'.  Eave-drappers  don't  hear  no 
good  er  deyse'f,  en  de  way  Brer  Fox  wuz  *bused  dat 
day  wuz  a  caution. 

"Bimeby  Brer  Fox  stick  his  head  in  de  do\  en 
holler  out: 

"'Good  evenin',  fokes,  I  wish  you  mighty  well," 
sezee,  en  wid  dat  he  make  a  dash  for  Brer  Rabbit,  but 
Miss  Meadows  en  de  gals  dey  holler  en  squall,  dey 
did,  en  Brer  Tarrypin  he  got  ter  scramblin'  roun'  up 
dar  on  de  shelf,  en  off  he  come,  en  blip  he  tuck  Brer 
Fox  on  de  back  er  de  head.  Dis  sorter  stunted  Brer 
Fox,  en  w'en  he  gedder  his  'membunce  de  mos*  he 
seed  wuz  a  pot  er  greens  turnt  over  in  de  fireplace,  en 
a  broke  cheer.  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  gone,  en  Brer  Tarry- 
pin  wuz  gone,  en  Miss  Meadows  en  de  gals  wuz 
gone." 

'Where  did  the  Rabbit  go,  Uncle  Remus?"  the 
little  boy  asked,  after  a  pause. 

"Bless  yo'  soul,  honey!  Brer  Rabbit  he  skint  up  de 
chimbly— dats  w'at  turnt  de  pot  er  greens  over.  Brer 
Tarrypin,  he  crope  under  de  bed,  he  did,  en  got 
behime  de  cloze-chist,  en  Miss  Meadows  en  de  gals, 
dey  run  out  in  de  yard. 

"Brer  Fox,  he  sorter  look  roun'  en  feel  er  de  back 


52 


LZGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


er  his  head,  whar  Brer  Tarrypin  lit,  but  he  don't  see 
no  sine  er  Brer  Rabbit.  But  de  smoke  en  de  ashes 
gwine  up  de  chimbly  got  de  best  er  Brer  Rabbit,  en 
bimeby  he  sneeze— hucky chow! 

"'Aha!'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee;  'youer  dar,  is  you?* 
sezee.  Well,  I'm  gwineter  smoke  you  out,  ef  it  takes 


a  mont*.  Youer  mine  dis  time,'  sezee.  Brer  Rabbit 
ain't  sayin'  nuthin'. 

"'Ain't  you  comin'  down?'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 
Brer  Rabbit  ain't  sayin'  nuthin'.  Den  Brer  Fox,  he 
went  out  atter  some  wood,  he  did,  en  w'en  he  come 
back  he  hear  Brer  Rabbit  laughin*. 


MR.   TERRAPIN  APPEARS   UPON  TOE  SCENE         53 

!<*W'at  you  laughin'  at,  Brer  Rabbit?'  sez  Brer 
Fox,  sezee. 

"  'Can't  tell  you,  Brer  Fox,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee. 

"  'Better  tell,  Brer  Rabbit,'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"Tain't  nuthin'  but  a  box  er  money  somebody 
done  gone  en  lef  up  yer  in  de  chink  er  de  chimbly/ 
sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee. 

"  'Don't  bleeve  you,'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"  'Look  up  en  see,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee,  en  w'en 
Brer  Fox  look  up,  Brer  Rabbit  spit  his  eyes  full  er 
terbarker  joose,  he  did,  en  Brer  Fox,  he  make  a  break 
fer  de  branch,  en  Brer  Rabbit  he  come  down  en  tole 
de  ladies  good-by. 

"'How  you  git  'im  off,  Brer  Rabbit?'  sez  Miss 
Meadows,  sez  she. 

"Who?  me?'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee;  Vy  I  des 
tuck  en  tole  'im  dat  ef  he  didn't  go  long  home  en 
stop  play  in'  his  pranks  on  spectubble  fokes,  dat  I'd 
take  'im  out  and  th'ash  'im,'  sezee." 

"And  what  became  of  the  Terrapin?"  asked  the 
little  boy. 

"Oh,  well  den!"  exclaimed  the  old  man,  "chilluns 
can't  speck  ter  know  all  *bout  eve'ything  'fo'  dey  git 
some  res'.  Dem  eyeleds  er  yone  wanter  be  propped 
wid  straws  dis  minnit." 


54  LEGENDS    OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


MR.  WOLF  MAKES  A  FAILURE 

"I  LAY  yo'  ma  got  comp'ny,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  as 
the  little  boy  entered  the  old  man's  door  with  a  huge 
piece  of  mince-pie  in  his  hand,  'en  ef  she  ain't  got 
comp'ny,  den  she  done  gone  en  drap  de  cubberd  key 
som'ers  whar  you  done  run  up  wid  it." 

"Well,  I  saw  the  pie  lying  there,  Uncle  Remus, 
and  I  just  thought  I'd  fetch  it  out  to  you." 

"Tooby  sho,  honey,"  replied  the  old  man,  regard 
ing  the  child  with  admiration.  "Tooby  sho,  honey; 
dat  changes  marters.  Chrismus  doin's  is  outer  date,  en 
dey  ain't  got  no  bizness  layin'  roun'  loose.  Dish  yer 
pie,"  Uncle  Remus  continued,  holding  it  up  and 
measuring  it  with  an  experienced  eye,  "will  gimme 
strenk  fer  ter  persoo  on  atter  Brer  Fox  en  Brer  Rabbit 
en  de  udder  creeturs  w'at  dey  roped  in  'long  wid  um." 

Here  the  old  man  paused,  and  proceeded  to  de 
molish  the  pie— a  feat  accomplished  in  a  very  short 
time.  Then  he  wiped  the  crumbs  from  his  beard  and 
began: 

"Brer  Fox  feel  so  bad,  en  he  git  so  mad  *bout  Brer 
Rabbit,  dat  he  dunner  w'at  ter  do,  en  he  look  mighty 
down-hearted.  Bimeby,  one  day  wiles  he  wuz  gwine 
long  de  road,  old  Brer  Wolf  come  up  wid  'im.  Wen 
dey  done  howdyin'  en  axin'  atter  one  nudder's  fambly 


MR.    WOLF  MAKES   A   FAILURE 


55 


connexshun,  Brer  Wolf,  he  low,  he  did,  dat  der  wuz 
sump'n  wrong  wid  Brer  Fox,  en  Brer  Fox,  he  low'd 


der  wern't,  en  he  went  on  en  laugh  en  make  great 
terdo  kaze  Brer  Wolf  look  like  he  spishun  sump'n. 
But  Brer  Wolf,  he  got  mighty  long  head,  en  he  sorter 
broach  'bout  Brer  Rabbit's  kyar'ns  on,  kaze  de  way 
dat  Brer  Rabbit  'ceive  Brer  Fox  done  got  ter  be  de 
talk  er  de  naberhood.  Den  Brer  Fox  en  Bier  Wolf  dey 
sorter  palavered  on,  dey  did,  twel  bimeby  Brer  Woll 


56       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

he  up'n  say  dat  he  done  got  plan  fix  fer  ter  trap  Brer 
Rabbit.  Den  Brer  Fox  say  how.  Den  Brer  Wolf  up'n 
tell  'im  dat  de  way  fer  ter  git  de  drap  on  Brer  Rabbit 
wuz  ter  git  'im  in  Brer  Fox  house.  Brer  Fox  dun  know 
Brer  Rabbit  uv  ole,  en  he  know  dat  sorter  game  done 
wo'  ter  a  frazzle,  but  Brer  Wolf,  he  talk  mighty 
'swadin'. 

"  'How  you  gwine  git  'im  dar?'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"  Tool  'im  dar,'  sez  Brer  Wolf,  sezee. 

"Who  gwine  do  de  foolin'?'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"  111  do  de  f oolinV  sez  Brer  Wolf,  sezee,  'ef  you'll 
do  de  gamin'/  sezee. 

"  'How  you  gwine  do  it?'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

*  'You  run  long  home,  en  git  on  de  bed,  en  make 
like  you  dead,  en  don't  you  say  nothin'  twel  Brer 
Rabbit  come  en  put  his  han's  onter  you,'  sez  Brer 
Wolf,  sezee,  'en  ef  we  don't  git  'im  fer  supper,  Joe's 
dead  en  Sal's  a  widder,'  sezee. 

"Dis  look  like  mighty  nice  game,  en  Brer  Fox 
'greed.  So  den  he  amble  off  home,  en  Brer  Wolf,  he 
march  off  ter  Brer  Rabbit  house.  W'en  he  got  dar,  hit 
look  like  nobody  at  home,  but  Brer  Wolf  he  walk  up 
en  knock  on  de  do'— blam!  blam!  Nobody  come.  Den 
he  lam  aloose  en  knock  'gin— blim!  blim! 

'  'Who  dar?'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee. 

"Tr'en','  sez  Brer  Wolf. 

"Too  menny  fr'en's  spiles  de  dinner,'  sez  Brer 
Rabbit,  sezee;  'w'ich  un's  dis?'  sezee, 


MR.    WOLF   MAKES   A   FAILURE 


57 


"  1  fetch  bad  news,  Brer  Rabbit,'  sez  Brer  Wolf, 
sezee. 

"  'Bad  news  is  soon  tole,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee. 

"By  dis  time  Brer  Rabbit  done  come  ter  de  do', 
wid  his  head  tied  up  in  a  red  hankcher. 

"  'Brer  Fox  died  dis  morninV  sez  Brer  Wolf,  sezee. 

'  'Whar  yo'  mo'nin*  gown,  Brer  Wolf?'  sez  Brer 
Rabbit,  sezee. 

"  'Gwine  atter  it  now,'  sez  Brer  Wolf,  sezee.  1  des 
call  by  fer  ter  bring  de  news.  I  went  down  ter  Brer 


Fox  house  little  bit  'go,  en  dar  I  foun*  'im  stiff; 
sezee. 

"Den  Brer  Wolf  lope  off.  Brer  Rabbit  sot  down  en 


58  LEGENDS   OF  THE   OLD   PLANTATION 

scratch  his  head,  he  did,  en  bimeby  he  say  ter  hisse'f 
dat  he  bleeve  he  sorter  drap  'roun'  by  Brer  Fox  house 
fer  ter  see  how  de  Ian'  lay.  No  sooner  said'n  done.  Up 
he  jump,  en  out  he  went.  Wen  Brer  Rabbit  got  close 
ter  Brer  Fox  house,  all  look  lonesome.  Den  he  went 
up  nigher.  Nobody  stirrin'.  Den  he  look  in,  en  dar 
lay  Brer  Fox  stretch  out  on  de  bed  des  es  big  ez  life. 
Den  Brer  Rabbit  make  like  he  talkin'  to  hisse'f. 

"'Nobody  'roun'  fer  ter  look  atter  Brer  Fox— not 
even  Brer  Tukkey  Buzzard  ain't  come  ter  de  funerl,' 
sezee.  'I  hope  Brer  Fox  ain't  dead,  but  I  speck  he  is,' 
sezee.  'Even  down  ter  Brer  Wolf  done  gone  en  lef 
'im.  Hit's  de  busy  season  wid  me,  but  111  set  up  wid 
'im.  He  seem  like  he  dead,  yit  he  mayn't  be,'  sez  Brer 
Rabbit,  sezee.  Wen  a  man  go  ter  see  dead  fokes, 
dead  fokes  allers  raises  up  der  behime  leg  en  hollers, 
wahoo!'  sezee. 

"Brer  Fox  he  stay  still.  Den  Brer  Rabbit  he  talk 
little  louder: 

"  'Mighty  funny.  Brer  Fox  look  like  he  dead,  yit  he 
don't  do  like  he  dead.  Dead  fokes  hists  der  behime 
leg  en  hollers  wahoo!  w'en  a  man  come  ter  see  urn,' 
sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee. 

"Sho'  nuff ,  Brer  Fox  lif  up  his  foot  en  holler  wahoo! 
en  Brer  Rabbit  he  tear  out  de  house  like  de  dogs  wuz 
atter  'im.  Brer  Wolf  mighty  smart,  but  nex'  time  you 
hear  fum  'im,  honey,  he'll  be  in  trouble.  You  des  hole 
vo'  breff'n  wait/' 


MR.  FOX  TACKLES  OLD  MAN  TARRYPIN 


59 


xn 

MR.  FOX  TACKLES  OLD  MAN  TARRYPIN 

"ONE  day/'  said  Uncle  Remus,  sharpening  his  knife 
on  the  palm  of  his  hand— "one  day  Brer  Fox  strike  up 
wid  Brer  Tarrypin  right  in  de  middle  er  de  big  road. 
Brer  Tarrypin  done  heerd  'im  comin',  en  he  low  ter 
hissef  dat  he'd  sorter  keep  one  eye  open;  but  Brer  Fox 
wuz  monstus  perlite,  en  he  open  up  de  confab,  he  did, 
like  he  ain't  see  Brer  Tarrypin  sence  de  las'  freshit. 


"'Heyo,  Brer  Tarrypin,  whar  you  bin  dis  long- 
come-short?'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"'Lounjun  'roun',  Brer  Fox,  lounjun  'roun','  sez 
Brer  Tarrypin. 


60       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

'*  'You  don't  look  sprucy  like  you  did,  Brer  Tarry- 
pin,'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"'Lounjun  'roun'  en  suffer'n',  sez  Brer  Tarrypin, 
sezee. 

"Den  de  talk  sorter  run  on  like  dis: 

"  'Wat  ail  you,  Brer  Tarrypin?  Yo'  eye  look  mighty 
red/  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"  'Lor',  Brer  Fox,  you  dunner  w'at  trubble  is.  You 
ain't  bin  lounjun  'roun'  en  suffer'n','  sez  Brer  Tarry- 
pin,  sezee. 

"'Bofe  eyes  red,  en  you  look  like  you  mighty 
weak,  Brer  Tarrypin,'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"'Lor',  Brer  Fox,  you  dunner  w'at  trubble  is,'  sez 
Brer  Tarrypin,  sezee. 

'  'Wat  ail  you  now,  Brer  Tarrypin?'  sez  Brer  Fox, 
sezee. 

"  'Tuck  a  walk  de  udder  day,  en  man  come  'long 
en  sot  de  fiel'  a-fier.  Lor',  Brer  Fox,  you  dunner  w'at 
trubble  is,'  sez  Brer  Tarrypin,  sezee. 

"  'How  you  git  out  de  fier,  Brer  Tarrypin?'  sez  Brer 
Fox,  sezee. 

"'Sot  en  tuck  it,  Brer  Fox,'  sez  Brer  Tarrypin, 
sezee.  'Sot  en  tuck  it,  en  de  smoke  sif  in  my  eye,  en 
de  fier  scorch  my  back,'  sez  Brer  Tarrypin,  sezee. 

"'Likewise  hit  bu'n  yo'  tail  off,'  sez  Brer  Fox, 
sezee. 

"  'Oh,  no,  dar's  de  tail,  Brer  Fox,'  sez  Brer  Tarry- 
pin,  sezee,  en  wid  dat  he  oncurl  his  tail  fum  under  de 


MR.  FOX  TACKLES  OLD  MAN  TARRYPIN     61 

>hell,  en  no  sooner  did  he  do  dat  dan  Brer  Fox  grab 
it,  en  holler  out: 

"'Oh,  yes,  Brer  Tarrypin!  Oh,  yes!  En  so  youer 
de  man  w'at  lam  me  on  de  head  at  Miss  Meadows's  is 
you?  Youer  in  wid  Brer  Rabbit,  is  you?  Well,  I'm 
gwineter  out  you/ 

"Brer  Tarrypin  beg  en  beg,  but  'twan't  no  use.  Brer 
Fox  done  been  fool  so  much  dat  he  look  like  he 
'termin'  fer  ter  have  Brer  Tarrypin  haslett.  Den  Brer 
Tarrypin  beg  Brer  Fox  not  fer  ter  drown  'im,  but  Brer 
Fox  ain't  makin'  no  prommus,  en  den  he  beg  Brer  Fox 
fer  ter  bu'n'  'im,  kase  he  done  useter  fier,  but  Brer  Fox 
don't  say  nuthin'.  Bimeby  Brer  Fox  drag  Brer  Tarry- 
pin  off  little  ways  blow  de  spring-'ouse,  en  souze  him 
under  de  water.  Den  Brer  Tarrypin  begin  fer  ter 
holler: 

*  Tu'n  loose  dat  stump  root  en  ketch  holt  er  me— 
tu'n  loose  dat  stump  root  en  ketch  holt  er  me/ 

"Brer  Fox  he  holler  back: 

"  1  ain't  got  holt  er  no  stump  root,  en  I  is  got  holt 
er  you/ 

"Brer  Tarrypin  he  keep  on  holler'n: 

"  'Ketch  holt  er  me— I'm  a  drownin'— I'm  a  drownin* 
—tu'n  loose  de  stump  root  en  ketch  holt  er  me/ 

"Sho  nuff,  Brer  Fox  tu'n  loose  de  tail,  en  Brer 
Tarrypin,  he  went  down  ter  de  bottom— kerblunkity- 
blink!" 

No  typographical  combination  or  description  could 


62 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


do  justice  to  the  guttural  sonorousness— the  peculiar 
intonation— which   Uncle  Remus   imparted   to   this 


combination.  It  was  so  peculiar,  indeed,  that  the  littl« 
boy  asked: 

"How  did  he  go  to  the  bottom,  Uncle  Remus?" 


THE  AWFUL,  FATE  OF  MR.   WOLF  Ov5 

"Kerblunkity-blink!" 

"Was  he  drowned,  Uncle  Remus?*' 

"Who?  Ole  man  Tarrypin?  Is  you  drowndid  w'efc 
yo'  ma  tucks  you  in  de  bed?" 

"Well,  no,"  replied  the  little  boy,  dubiously. 

"Ole  man  Tarrypin  wuz  at  home  I  tell  you,  honey- 
Kerblinkity-blunk!" 


xm 
THE  AWFUL  FATE  OF  MR.  WOLF 

UNCLE  REMUS  was  half-soling  one  of  his  shoes,  and 
his  Miss  Sally's  little  boy  had  been  handling  his  awls, 
his  hammers,  and  his  knives  to  such  an  extent  that  the 
old  man  was  compelled  to  assume  a  threatening  atti 
tude;  but  peace  reigned  again,  and  the  little  boy 
perched  himself  on  a  chair,  watching  Uncle  Remus 
driving  in  pegs. 

"Folks  w'at's  allers  pesterin'  people,  en  bodderin* 
longer  dat  w'at  ain't  dern,  don't  never  come  ter  no 
good  eend.  Dar  wuz  Brer  Wolf;  stidder  mindin'  un 
his  own  bizness,  he  hatter  take  en  go  in  pardnerships 
wid  Brer  Fox,  en  dey  want  skacely  a  minnit  in  de  day 
dat  he  want  atter  Brer  Rabbit,  en  he  kep'  on  en  kep' 
on  twel  fus'  news  you  knowed  he  got  kotch  up  wid 
en  he  got  kotch  up  wid  monstus  bad." 

"Goodness,  Uncle  Remus!  I  thought  the  Wolf  let 


04       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

the  Rabbit  alone,  after  he  tried  to  fool  him  about  the 
Fox  being  dead." 

"Better  lemme  tell  dish  yer  my  way.  Bimeby  hit'll 
be  yo'  bed  time,  en  Miss  Sally'll  be  a  hollerin'  atter 


you>  en  you'll  be  a  whimplin'  roun',  en  den  Mars 
John'll  fetch  up  de  re'r  wid  dat  ar  strop  w'at  I  made 
fer  'im.w 

The  child  laughed,  and  playfully  shook  his  fist  in 
the  simple,  serious  face  of  the  venerable  old  darkey, 
but  said  no  more.  Uncle  Remus  waited  awhile  to  be 
sure  there  was  to  be  no  other  demonstration,  and 
then  proceeded: 

"Brer  Rabbit  ain't  see  no  peace  w'atsumever.  He 


"Brer  Rabbit  ain't  see  no  peace  w'atsumever." 


THE  AWFUL  FATE  OF  MR.  WOLF  65 

can't  leave  home  'cep'  Brer  Wolf  'ud  make  a  raid  en 
tote  off  some  er  de  fambly.  Brer  Rabbit  b'ilt  'im  a 
straw  house,  en  hit  wuz  tored  down;  den  he  made  a 
house  outeii  pine-tops,  en  dat  went  de  same  way; 
den  he  made  'im  a  bark  house,  en  dat  wuz  raided  on, 
en  eve'y  time  he  los'  a  house  he  los'  one  er  his  chil- 
luns.  Las'  Brer  Rabbit  got  mad,  he  did,  en  cust,  en 
den  he  went  off,  he  did,  en  got  some  kyarpinters,  en 
dey  b'ilt  'im  a  plank  house  wid  rock  foundashuns. 
Atter  dat  he  could  have  some  peace  en  quietness, 
He  could  go  out  en  pass  de  time  er  day  wid  his 
neighbors,  en  come  back  en  set  by  de  fier,  en  smoke 
his  pipe,  en  read  de  newspapers  same  like  enny  man 
w'at  got  a  fambly.  He  made  a  hole,  he  did,  in  de 
cellar  whar  de  little  Rabbits  could  hide  out  w'en  dar 
wuz  much  uv  a  racket  in  de  neighborhood,  en  de 
latch  er  de  front  do'  kotch  on  de  inside.  Brer  Wolf, 
he  see  how  de  Ian'  lay,  he  did,  en  he  lay  low.  De 
little  Rabbits  was  mighty  skittish,  but  hit  got  so  dat 
cole  chills  ain't  run  up  Brer  Rabbit's  back  no  mo'  w'en 
he  heerd  Brer  Wolf  go  gallopin'  by. 

"Bimeby,  one  day  w'en  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  fixin'  fer 
ter  call  on  Miss  Coon,  he  heerd  a  monstrus  fuss  en 
clatter  up  de  big  road,  en  'mos'  'fo'  he  could  fix  his 
years  fer  ter  lissen,  Brer  Wolf  run  in  de  do*.  De  little 
Rabbits  dey  went  inter  dere  hole  in  de  cellar,  dey 
did,  like  blowin'  out  a  cannle.  Brer  Wolf  wuz  farlv 
kiwe/d  wid  mud,  en  mighty  nigh  outer  win'. 


66 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


"'Oh,  do  pray  save  me,  Brer  Rabbit!'  sez  Brer 
Wolf,  sezee.  'Do  please,  Brer  Rabbit!  de  dogs  is 
ater  me,  en  dey'll  t'ar  me  up.  Don't  you  year  urn 


comin?  Oh,  do  please  save  me,  Brer  Rabbit!  Hide 
me  some'rs  whar  de  dogs  won't  git  me.' 

"No  quicker  sed  dan  done. 

"  'J11111?  m  dat  big  cnist  dar,  Brer  Wolf,'  sez  Brer 
Rabbit,  sezee;  'jump  in  dar  en  make  yo'se'f  at 
home/ 

"In  jump  Brer  Wolf,  down  come  the  led,  en  inter 
de  hasp  went  de  hook,  en  dar  Mr.  Wolf  wuz.  Den 
Brer  Rabbit  went  ter  de  lookin'-glass,  he  did,  en  wink 


THE  AWFUL  FATE   OF   MR.   WOLF 


67 


at  hisse'f,  en  den  he  draw'd  de  rockin'-cheer  in  front 
er  de  fier,  he  did,  en  tuck  a  big  chaw  terbarker." 

"Tobacco,  Uncle  Remus?"  asked  the  little  boy,  in 
credulously. 

"Rabbit  terbarker,  honey.  You  know  dis  yer  life 
ev'lastin'  w'at  Miss  Sally  puts  'rnong  de  cloze  in  de 
trunk;  well,  dat's  rabbit  terbarker.  Den  Brer  Rabbit 
sot  dar  long  time,  he  did,  turnin'  his  mine  over  en 
wukken  his  thinkin'  masheen.  Bimeby  he  got  up,  en 
sorter  stir  roun'.  Den  Brer  Wolf  open  up: 

"  Is  de  dogs  all  gone,  Brer  Rabbit?' 

"'Seem  like  I  hear  one  un  um  smellin'  roun'  de 
chimbly-cornder  des  now.' 

"Den  Brer  Rabbit  git  de  kittle  en  fill  it  full  er 
water,  en  put  it  on  de  fier. 

*  Wat  you  doin'  now,  Brer  Rabbit?' 

"Tm  fixin  fer  ter  make  you  a  nice  cup  er  tea, 
Brer  Wolf.' 

"Den  Brer  Rabbit 
went  ter  de  cubberd 
en  git  de  gimlet,  en 
commence  for  ter  bo' 
little  holes  in  de  chist- 
led. 

"Wat  you  doin 
now,  Brer  Rabbit?* 

"  I'm  bo'in'  little  holes  so  you  kin  get  bref ,  Brer 
Wolf/ 


68       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

"Den  Brer  Rabbit  went  out  en  git  some  mo*  wood, 
en  fling  it  on  de  fier. 

'  Wat  you  doin'  now,  Brer  Rabbit?' 

"I'm  a  chunkin'  up  de  fier  so  you  won't  git  cole, 
Brer  Wolf/ 

"Den  Brer  Rabbit  went  down  inter  de  cellar  en 
fotch  out  all  his  chilluns. 

"  Wat  you  doin'  now,  Brer  Rabbit?' 

"  I'm  a  tellin'  my  chilluns  w'at  a  nice  man  you  is, 
Brer  Wolf.' 

"En  de  chilluns,  dey  had  ter  put  der  han's  on  der 
moufs  fer  ter  keep  fum  laffin'.  Den  Brer  Rabbit  he 
got  de  kittle  en  commenced  fer  to  po'  de  hot  water  on 
de  chist-lid. 

"Wat  dat  I  hear,  Brer  Rabbit?' 

"You  hear  de  win'  a  blowin',  Brer  Wolf/ 

"Den  de  water  begin  fer  ter  sif  thoo. 

"Wat  dat  I  feel,  Brer  Rabbit?' 

"'You  feels  de  fleas  a  bitin',  Brer  Wolf.' 

"  'Dey  er  bitin'  mighty  hard,  Brer  Rabbit/ 

*  Tu'n  over  on  de  udder  side,  Brer  Wolf/ 

"  Wat  dat  I  feel  now,  Brer  Rabbit?' 

"  'Still  you  feels  de  fleas>  Brer  Wolf/ 

"  'Dey  er  eatin'  me  up,  Brer  Rabbit,'  en  dem  wuz 
de  las  words  er  Brer  Wolf,  kase  de  scaldin'  water 
done  de  bizness, 

"Den  Brer  Rabbit  call  in  his  neighbors,  he  did,  en 
dey  hilt  a  reglar  juberlee;  en  ef  you  go  ter  Brer  Rab- 


"You  feels  de  fleas  a  bitin',  Brer  Wolf. 


MR.  FOX  AND  THE  DECEITFUL  FROGS       69 

bit's  house  right  now,  I  dunno  but  w'at  youll  fine 
Brer  Wolfs  hide  hangin*  in  de  back-po'ch,  en  all  be- 
kaze  he  wuz  so  bizzy  wid  udder  fo'kses  doin's." 


xrv 

MR.  FOX  AND  THE  DECEITFUL  FROGS 

WHEN  the  little  boy  ran  in  to  see  Uncle  Remus  thu 
night  after  he  had  told  him  of  the  awful  fate  of  Brei 
Wolf,  the  only  response  to  his  greeting  was: 

'I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker!" 

No  explanation  could  convey  an  adequate  idea  of 
the  intonation  and  pronunciation  which  Uncle  Remus 
brought  to  bear  upon  this  wonderful  word  Those 
who  can  recall  to  mind  the  peculiar  gurgling,  jerking, 
liquid  sound  made  by  pouring  water  from  a  large  jug, 
or  the  sound  produced  by  throwing  several  stones  in 
rapid  succession  into  a  pond  of  deep  water,  may  be 
able  to  form  a  very  faint  idea  of  the  sound,  but  it  can 
not  be  reproduced  in  print.  The  little'boy  was  aston 
ished. 

"What  did  you  say,  Uncle  Remus?" 

"I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker!  I-doom-er-ker-kum- 
mer-kerl" 

"What  is  that?" 

"Dat's  Tarrypin  talk,  dat  is.  Bless  yo'  soul,  honey," 
continued  the  old  man,  brightening  up,  "w'en  you  git 
ole  ez  me— w'en  you  see  w'at  I  sees,  en  year  w'at  I 


70 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


years— de  creeturs  dat  you  can't  talk  wid  11  be  mighty 
skase— dey  will  dat.  W'y,  ders  er  old  gray  rat  w'at 
uses  Tbout  yer,  en  time  atter  time  he  comes  out  w'en 
you  all  done  gone  ter  bed  en  sets  up  dar  in  de  cornder 
en  dozes,  en  me  en  him  talks  by  de  'our;  en  w'at  dat 
old  rat  dunno  ain't  down  in  de  spellin'  book.  Des 
now,  w'en  you  run  in  and  broke  me  up,  I  wuz  fetchin' 


into  my  mine  w'at  Brer  Tarrypin  say  ter  Brer  Fcx 
w'en  he  turn  'im  loose  in  de  branch." 
"What  did  he  say,  Uncle  Remus?" 


MR.  FOX  AND  THE  DECEITFUL  FROGS 


71 


"Dat  w'at  he  said— I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker^ 
Brer  Tarrypin  wuz  at  de  bottom  er  de  pon',  en  he  talk 
back,  he  did,  in  bubbles— I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker! 
Brer  Fox,  he  ain't  sayin'  nuthin',  but  Brer  Bull-Frog, 


settin'  on  de  bank,  he  hear  Brer  Tarrypin,  ne  did,  en 
he  holler  back: 


72       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

'  'Jug-er-rum-kum-dum!  Jug-er-nim-kum-dumP 

"Den  n'er  Frog  holler  out: 

"'Knee-deep!  Knee-deep!' 

"Den  ole  Brer  Bull-Frog,  he  holler  back: 

"  'Don'-you-ber-lieve-'im!   Don't-you-berlieve-'imf 

"Den  de  bubbles  come  up  fum  Brer  Tarrypin: 

*  1-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker!' 

"Den  n'er  Frog  sing  out: 

"'Wade  in!  Wade  in!' 

"Den  ole  Brer  Bull-Frog  talk  thoo  his  ho'seness: 

'  'Dar-youll-fine-yo'-brudder!  Dar-you'11-fine-yo'- 
brudder!' 

"Sho  nuff,  Brer  Fox  look  over  de  bank,  he  did,  en 
dar  wuz  n'er  Fox  lookin'  at  'im  outer  de  water.  Den 
he  retch  out  fer  ter  shake  han's,  en  in  he  went,  heels 
over  head,  en  Brer  Tarrypin  bubble  out: 

"  T-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker!' " 

"Was  the  Fox  drowned,  Uncle  Remus?"  asked  the 
little  boy. 

"He  weren't  zackly  drowndid,  honey,"  replied  the 
old  man,  with  an  air  of  cautious  reserve.  "He  did 
manage  fer  ter  scramble  out,  but  a  little  mo'  en  de 
Mud  Turkic  would  er  got  'im,  en  den  he'd  er  bin 
made  hash  un  worril  widout  een'." 


MR.    FOX   GOES   A-HUNT1NG  73 


XV 

MR.  FOX  GOES  A-HUNTING,  BUT  MR.  RABBIT 
BAGS  THE  GAME 

"ATTER  Brer  Fox  hear  T^out  how  Brer  Rabbit 
done  Brer  Wolf,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  scratching  his 
head  with  the  point  of  his  awl,  'lie  low,  he  did,  dat 
he  better  not  be  so  brash,  en  he  sorter  let  Brer  Rab 
bit  lone.  Dey  wuz  all  time  seein'  one  nudder,  en 
*bunnunce  er  times  Brer  Fox  could  er  nab  Brer  Rab 
bit,  but  eve'y  time  he  got  de  chance,  his  mine  'ud 
sorter  rezume  *bout  Brer  Wolf,  en  he  let  Brer  Rabbit 
lone.  Bimeby  dey  'gun  ter  git  kinder  familious  wid 
Wunner  nudder  like  dey  useter,  en  it  got  so  Brer 
Fox'd  call  on  Brer  Rabbit,  en  dey'd  set  up  en  smoke 
der  pipes,  dey  would,  like  no  ha'sh  feelin's  'd  ever 
rested  'twixt  um. 

"Las',  one  day  Brer  Fox  come  long  all  rig  out,  en 
ax  Brer  Rabbit  fer  ter  go  huntin'  wid  'im,  but  Brer 
Rabbit,  he  sorter  feel  lazy,  en  he  tell  Brer  Fox  dat 
he  got  some  udder  fish  fer  ter  fry.  Brer  Fox  feel 
mighty  sorry,  he  did,  but  he  say  he  bleeve  he  try  his 
han'  enny  how,  en  off  he  put.  He  wuz  gone  all  day, 
en  he  had  a  monstus  streak  er  luck,  Brer  Fox  did,  en 
he  bagged  a  sight  er  game.  Bimeby,  to'rds  de  shank 
er  de  evenin',  Brer  Rabbit  sorter  stretch  hisse'f,  he 
did,  en  low  hit's  mos'  time  fer  Brer  Fox  fer  ter  git 


74 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


long  home.  Den  Brer  Rabbit,  he  went'n  mounted  a 
stump  fer  ter  see  ef  he  could  year  Brer  Fox  comin'. 
He  ain't  bin  dar  long,  twel  sho'  nuff,  yer  come  Brer 


Fox  thoo  de  woods,  singing  like  a  nigger  at  a  frolic. 
Brer  Rabbit,  he  lipt  down  ofFn  de  stump,  he  did,  en 
lay  down  in  de  road  en  make  like  he  dead.  Brer  Fox 
he  come  'long,  he  did,  en  see  Brer  Rabbit  layin'  dar. 
He  tu'n  'im  over,  he  did,  en  'zamine  'im,  en  say, 
sezee: 

"  'Dish  yer  rabbit  dead.  He  look  like  he  bin  dead 
long  time.  He  dead,  but  he  mighty  fat.  He  de  fattes' 


MR.   FOX  GOES   A-HUNTING 


75 


rabbit  w'at  I  ever  see,  but  he  bin  dead  too  long.  I 
feard  ter  take  'im  home,'  sezee. 

"Brer  Rabbit  ain't  sayin'  nuthin'.  Brer  Fox,  he 
sorter  lick  his  chops,  but  he  went  on  en  lef  Brer 
Rabbit  lay  in'  in  de  road.  Dreckly  he  wuz  outer  sight, 
Brer  Rabbit,  he  jump  up,  he  did,  en  run  roun'  thoo  de 
woods  en  git  befo  Brer  Fox  agin.  Brer  Fox,  he  come 
up,  en  dar  lay  Brer  Rabbit,  periently  cole  en  stiff. 
Brer  Fox,  he  look  at  Brer  Rabbit,  en  he  sorter  study 


V 


Atter  while  he  onslung  his  game-bag,  en  say  ter 
hisse'L  sezee: 


76       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

"'Deze  yer  rabbits  gwine  ter  was'e.  1*11  des  *bout 
leave  my  game  yer,  en  I'll  go  back'n  git  dat  udder 
rabbit,  en  111  make  fokes  bleeve  dat  I'm  ole  man 
Hunter  fum  Huntsville,'  sezee. 

"En  wid  dat  he  drapt  his  game  en  loped  back  up 
de  road  atter  de  udder  rabbit,  en  w'en  he  got  outer 
sight,  ole  Brer  Rabbit,  he  snatch  up  Brer  Fox  game 
en  put  out  fer  home.  Nex*  time  he  see  Brer  Fox  he 
holler  out: 

'  What  you  kill  de  udder  day,  Brer  Fox?'  sezee. 

"Den  Brer  Fox,  he  sorter  koam  his  flank  wid  his 
tongue,  en  holler  back: 

"'I  kotch  a  han'ful  er  hard  sense,  Brer  Rabbit,* 
sezee. 

"Den  ole  Brer  Rabbit,  he  laff,  he  did,  en  up  en 
spon',  sezee: 

"'Ef  I'd  a  know'd  you  wuz  atter  dat,  Brer  Fox, 
f  d  a  loant  you  some  er  mine,'  sezee." 

XVI 

OLD  MR.  RABBIT,  HE'S  A  GOOD  FISHERMAN 

"BRER  RABBIT  en  Brer  Fox  wuz  like  some  chilluns 
w'at  I  knows  un,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  regarding  the 
little  boy,  who  had  come  to  hear  another  story,  with 
an  affectation  of  great  solemnity.  "Bofe  un  um  wuz 
tillers  atter  wunner  nudder,  a  prankin*  en  a  pester'n 
'roun*,  but  Brer  Rabbit  did  had  some  peace,  kaze  Brer 


OLD  MR.    RABBIT,   HE'S    A   GOOD   FISHERMAN        77 

Fox  done  got  skittish  t>out  puttin*  de  clamps  on  Brer 
Rabbit. 

"One  day,  w'en  Brer  Rabbit,  en  Brer  Fox,  en  Brer 
Coon,  en  Brer  B'ar,  en  a  whole  lot  tin  um  wuz  clearin* 
up  a  new  groun'  fer  ter  plant  a  roas'n'year  patch,  de 
sun  'gun  ter  git  sorter  hot,  en  Brer  Rabbit  he  got 
tired;  but  he  didn't  let  on,  kaze  he  'fear'd  de  balance 
un  um'd  call  'im  lazy,  en  he  keep  on  totin'  off  trash  en 
pilin'  up  bresh,  twel  bimeby  he  holler  out  dat  he 
gotter  brier  in  his  han',  en  den  he  take'n  slip  off,  en 


hunt  fer  cool  place  fer  ter  res'.  Atter  w'ile  he  come 
'crosst  a  well  wid  a  bucket  hangin*  in  it. 


78       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

"'Dat  look  cool,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee,  'en  cool 
J  speck  she  is.  Ill  des  T^out  git  in  dar  en  take  a  nap,' 
en  wid  dat  in  he  jump,  he  did,  en  he  ain't  no  sooner 
fix  hisse'f  dan  de  bucket  'gun  ter  go  down." 

"Wasn't  the  Rabbit  scared,  Uncle  Remus?"  asked 
the  little  boy. 

"Honey,  dey  ain't  been  no  wusser  skeer'd  beas* 
tfence  de  worril  begin  dan  dish  yer  same  Brer  Rabbit. 
He  fa'rly  had  a  ager.  He  know  whar  he  cum  fum,  but 
he  dunner  whar  he  gwine.  Dreckly  he  feel  de  bucket 
hit  de  water,  en  dar  she  sot,  but  Brer  Rabbit  he  keep 
mighty  still,  kaze  he  dunner  w'at  minnit  gwineter  be 
de  nex'.  He  des  lay  dar  en  shuck  en  shiver. 

"Brer  Fox  allers  got  one  eye  on  Brer  Rabbit,  en 
w'en  he  slip  off  fum  de  new  groun',  Brer  Fox  he  sneak 
atter  'im.  He  know  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  atter  some 
projick  er  nudder,  en  he  tuck'n  crope  off,  he  did,  en 
watch  'im.  Brer  Fox  see  Brer  Rabbit  come  to  de  well 
en  stop,  en  den  he  see  'im  jump  in  de  bucket,  en 
den,  lo  en  beholes,  he  see  'im  go  down  outer  sight, 
Brer  Fox  wuz  de  mos'  'stonish  Fox  dat  you  ever  laid 
eyes  on.  He  sot  off  dar  in  de  bushes  en  study  en 
study,  but  he  don't  make  no  head  ner  tails  ter  dis 
kinder  bizness.  Den  he  say  ter  hisse'f,  sezee: 

"Well,  ef  dis  don't  bang  my  times,'  sezee,  'den 
Joe's  dead  en  Sal's  a  widder.  Right  down  dar  in  dat 
well  Brer  Rabbit  keep  his  money  hid,  en  ef  'tain't  dat 
den  he  done  gone  en  'skiver 'd  a  gole-mine,  en  ef 


OIJD  MR.   RABBIT,   HE'S   A  GOOD   FISHERMAN        79 

'tain't  dat,  den  I'm  a  gwineter  see  w'at's  in  dar,'  sezee. 

"Brer  Fox  crope  up  little  nigher,  he  did,  en  lissen, 
but  he  don't  year  no  fuss,  en  he  keep  on  gittin'  nigher, 
en  yit  he  don't  year  nuthin'.  Bimeby  he  git  up  close 
en  peep  down,  but  he  don't  see  nuthin'  en  he  don't 
year  nuthin'.  All  dis  time  Brer  Rabbit  mighty  nigh 
skeer'd  outen  his  skin,  en  he  fear'd  fer  ter  move  kaze 
de  bucket  might  keel  over  en  spill  him  out  in  de 
water.  Wile  he  sayin'  his  pra'rs  over  like  a  train  er 
kyars  runnin',  ole  Brer  Fox  holler  out: 

"Heyo,  Brer  Rabbit!  Who  you  wizzitin'  down 
dar?'  sezee. 

'"Who?  Me?  Oh,  I'm  des  a  fishin',  Brer  Fox,'  sez 
Brer  Rabbit,  sezee.  1  des  say  ter  myse'f  dat  I'd  sorter 
sprize  you  all  wid  a  mess  er  fishes  fer  dinner,  en  so 
here  I  is,  en  dar's  de  fishes.  I'm  a  fishin'  fer  suckers, 
Brer  Fox,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee. 

"  'Is  dey  many  un  um  down  dar,  Brer  Rabbit?'  sez 
Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"  'Lots  un  urn,  Brer  Fox;  scoze  en  scoze  un  um. 
De  water  is  natally  live  wid  um.  Come  down  en 
he'p  me  haul  um  in,  Brer  Fox,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee. 

"  'How  I  gwinter  git  down,  Brer  Rabbit?' 

'  'Jurflp  inter  de  bucket,  Brer  Fox.  HitTl  fetch  you 
down  all  safe  en  sounY 

"Brer  Rabbit  talk  so  happy  en  talk  so  sweet  dat 
Brer  Fox  he  jump  in  de  bucket,  he  did,  en,  ez  he 
went  down,  co'se  his  weight  pull  Brer  Rabbit  up. 


80 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


Wen  dey  pass  one  nudder  on  de  half-way  groun*, 
Brer  Rabbit  he  sing  out: 

"'Good-by,  Brer  Fox,  take  keer  yo'  cloze, 
Fer  dis-is  de  way  de  worril  goes; 
Some  goes  up  en  some  goes  down, 
You'll  git  ter  de  bottom  all  safe  en  soun?  * 

"Wen  Brer  Rabbit  got  out,  he  gallop  off  en  tole 

de  fokes  w'at  de 
well  blong  ter  dat 
Brer  Fox  wuz  down 
in  dar  muddyin*  up 
de  drinkin'  water,  en 
den  he  gallop  back 
ter  de  well,  en  holler 
down  ter  Brer  Fox: 

"  *Yer  come  a  man  wid 
*  great  big  gun- 
Wen  he  haul  you  up, 
you  jump  en  run.' " 

"What  then, 
Uncle  Remus?" 
asked  the  little  boy, 
as  the  old  man 
paused. 

*  As  a  Northern  friend  suggests  that  this  story  may  be  some 
what  obscure,  it  may  be  as  well  to  state  that  the  well  is  supposed 
to  be  supplied  with  a  rope  over  a  wheel,  or  pulley,  with  a  bucket 
at  each  end 


MR.   RABBIT  NIBBLES  UP  THE  BUTTER  81 

In  des  *bout  half  n'our,  honey,  bofe  un  um  wuz 
back  in  de  new  groun'  wukkin  des  like  dey  never 
heer'd  er  no  well,  ceppin'  dat  eve'y  now'n  den  Brer 
Rabbit'd  bust  out  in  er  laff,  en  old  Brer  Fox,  he'd  git 
a  spell  er  de  dry  grins." 


xvn 
MR.  RABBIT  NIBBLES  UP  THE  BUTTER 

animils  en  de  creeturs,"  said  Uncle  Remus, 
shaking  his  coffee  around  in  the  bottom  of  his  tin- 
cup,  in  order  to  gather  up  all  the  sugar,  "dey  kep'  on 
gittin'  mo*  en  mo'  familious  wid  wunner  nudder,  twel 
bimeby,  'twan't  long  'fo'  Brer  Rabbit,  en  Brer  Fox,  en 
Brer  Possum  got  ter  sorter  bunchin'  der  perwishuns 
tergedder  in  de  same  shanty.  Atter  w'ile  de  roof 
sorter  'gun  ter  leak,  en  one  day  Brer  Rabbit,  en  Brer 
Fox,  en  Brer  Possum,  'semble  fer  ter  see  ef  dey  can't 
kinder  patch  her  up.  Dey  had  a  big  day's  work  in 
front  un  um,  en  dey  fotch  der  dinner  wid  um.  Dey 
lump  de  vittles  up  in  one  pile,  en  de  butter  w'at  Brer 
Fox  brung,  dey  goes  en  puts  in  de  spring-'ouse  fer  ter 
keep  cool,  en  den  dey  went  ter  wuk,  en  'twan't  long 
'fo'  Brer  Rabbit  stummuck  'gun  ter  sorter  growl  en 
pester  'im.  Dat  butter  er  Brer  Fox  sot  heavy  on  his 
mine,  en  his  mouf  water  eve'y  time  he  'member  *bout 
it.  Present'y  he  say  ter  hisse'f  dat  he  bleedzd  ter  have 


82       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

a  nip  at  dat  butter,  en  den  he  lay  his  plans,  he  did. 

Fus'  news  you  know,  w'ile  dey  wuz  all  wukkin'  'long, 

Brer  Rabbit  raise  his  head  quick  en  fling  his  years 

forrerd  en  holler  out: 
"'Here  I  is.  Wat  you  want  wid  me?'  en  off  he 

put  like  sump'n  wuz  atter  'im. 

"He  sallied  'roun',  ole  Brer  Rabbit  did,  en  atter 

he  make  sho  dat  nobody  ain't  foller'n  un  'im,  inter  de 

spring-'ouse  he  bounces, 
en  dar  he  stays  twel  he 
git  a  bait  er  butter.  Den 
he  santer  on  back  en  go 
to  wuk. 

"Whar  you  bin?'  sez 
Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"'I  hear  my  chilluns 
callin'  me/  sez  Brer  Rab 
bit,  sezee,  'en  I  hatter  go 
see  w'at  dey  want.  My 
ole  'oman  done  gone  en 

tu^k  mi8hty  sick>' sezee- 

"Dey    wuk    on    twel 
*  bimeby  de  butter  tas'e  so 

good  dat  ole  Brer  Rabbit  want  some  mo'.  Den  he  raise 
up  his  head,  he  did,  en  holler  out: 
"  'Heyo!  Hole  on!  I'm  a  cominT  en  off  he  put. 
"Dis  time  he  stay  right  smart  w'ile,  en  w'en  he  git 
back  Brer  Fox  ax  him  whar  he  bin. 


MR.    RABBIT   NIBBLES   UP   THE  BUTTER  83 

"  1  been  ter  see  my  ole  'oman,  en  she's  a  sinkinY 
sezee. 

"Dreckly  Brer  Rabbit  hear  um  callin'  'im  ag'in  en 
off  he  goes,  en  dis  time,  bless  yo'  soul,  he  gits  de 
butter  out  so  clean  dat  he  kin  see  hisse'f  in  de  bottom 
er  de  bucket.  He  scrape  it  clean  en  lick  it  dry,  en  den 
he  go  back  ter  wuk  lookin'  mo'  samer  dan  a  nigger 
w'at  de  patter-rollers  bin  had  holt  un. 

"  'How's  yo'  ole  'oman  dis  time?'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"Tm  oblije  ter  you,  Brer  Fox,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit, 
sezee,  *but  I'm  fear'd  she's  done  gone  by  now,'  en  dat 
sorter  make  Brer  Fox  en  Brer  Possum  feel  in  moanin' 
wid  Brer  Rabbit. 

"Bimeby,  w'en  dinner-time  come,  dey  all  got  out 
der  vittles,  but  Brer  Rabbit  keep  on  lookin'  lonesome, 
en  Brer  Fox  en  Brer  Possum  dey  sorter  rustle  roun'" 
fer  ter  see  ef  dey  can't  make  Brer  Rabbit  feel  sorter 
splimmy." 

"What  is  that,  Uncle  Remus?"  asked  the  little  boy. 

"Sorter  splimmy-splammy,  honey— sorter  like  he  in 
a  crowd— sorter  like  his  ole  'oman  ain't  dead  ez  she 
mout  be.  You  know  how  fokes  duz  w'en  dey  gits 
whar  people's  a  moanin'." 

The  little  boy  didn't  know,  fortunately  for  him, 
and  Uncle  Remus  went  on: 

"Brer  Fox  en  Brer  Possum  rustle  roun',  dey  did, 
gittin  out  de  vittles,  en  bimeby  Brer  Fox,  he  say. 
sezee: 


84  LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

"'Brer  Possum,  you  run  down  ter  de  spring  en 
fetch  de  butter,  en  I'll  sail  'roun'  yer  en  set  de  table,' 
sezee. 

"Brer  Possum,  he  lope  off  atter  de  butter,  en 
dreckly  here  he  come  lopin'  back  wid  his  years  a 
trimblin'  en  his  tongue  a  hangin'  out.  Brer  Fox,  he 
holler  out: 

'  Wat  de  matter  now,  Brer  Possum?'  sezee. 

"You  all  better  run  yer,  fokes,'  sez  Brer  Possum,, 
sezee.  'De  las'  drap  er  dat  butter  done  gone!' 

'  'Whar  she  gone?'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"  'Look  like  she  dry  up,'  sez  Brer  Possum,  sezee. 

"Den  Brer  Rabbit,  he  look  sorter  sollum,  he  did, 
en  he  up'n  say,  sezee. 

"  'I  speck  dat  butter  melt  in  somebody  mouf ,'  sezee* 

"Den  dey  went  down  ter  de  spring  wid  Brer  Pos 
sum,  en  sho  nuff  de  butter  done  gone.  Wiles  dey  wuz 
sputin'  over  de  wunderment,  Brer  Rabbit  say  he  see 
tracks  all  'roun'  dar,  en  he  p'int  out  dat  ef  dey '11  all 
go  ter  sleep,  he  kin  ketch  de  chap  w'at  stole  de  butter. 
Den  dey  all  lie  down  en  Brer  Fox  en  Brer  Possum  dey 
soon  drapt  off  ter  sleep,  but  Brer  Rabbit  he  stay 
'wake,  en  w'en  de  time  come  he  raise  up  easy  en 
smear  Brer  Possum  mouf  wid  de  butter  on  his  paws, 
en  den  he  run  off  en  nibble  up  de  bes'  er  de  dinner 
w'at  dey  lef  layin'  out,  en  den  he  come  back  en  wake 
up  Brer  Fox,  en  show  'im  de  butter  on  Brer  Possum 
mouf.  Den  dey  wake  up  Brer  Possum,  en  tell  'im 


MR.   RABBIT   NIBBLES   UP   THE  BUTTER 


85 


*bout  it,  but  c'ose  Brer  Possum  'ny  it  ter  de  las'.  Brer 
Fox,  dough,  he's  a  kinder  lawyer,  en  he  argafy  dis 
way— dat  Brer  Possum  wuz  de  fus  one  at  de  butter, 


en  de  fus  one  f er  ter  miss  it,  en  mo'n  dat.  dar  hang  de 
signs  on  his  mouf.  Brer  Possum  see  dat  dey  got  'im 
jammed  up  in  a  cornder,  en  den  he  up  en  say  dat  de 
way  fer  ter  ketch  de  man  w'at  stole  de  butter  is  ter 
b'il'  a  big  bresh-heap  en  set  her  afier,  en  all  han's  try 
ter  jump  over,  en  de  one  w'at  fall  in,  den  he  de  chap 
w'at  stole  de  butter.  Brer  Rabbit  en  Brer  Fox  dey 


86 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


bofe  'gree,  dey  did,  en  dey  whirl  in  en  b'iF  de  bresh- 
heap,  en  dey  b'iT  her  high  en  dey  b'iT  her  wide,  en 
den  dey  totch  her  off.  Wen  she  got  ter  blazin'  up 
good,  Brer  Rabbit,  he  tuck  de  fus  turn.  He  sorter 
step  back,  en  look  'roun'  en  giggle,  en  over  he  went 
mo'  samer  dan  a  bird  flyin'.  Den  come  Brer  Fox.  He 
got  back  little  fudder,  en  spit  on  his  han's,  en  lit  out 
en  made  de  jump,  en  he  come  so  nigh  gittin'  in  dat 
de  een*  er  his  tail  kotch  afier.  Ain't  you  never  see  no 


fox,  honey?"  inquired  Uncle  Remus,  in  a  tone  that 
implied  both  conciliation  and  information. 


MR.    RABBIT   FINDS   HIS   MATCH  AT  LAST  87 

The  little  boy  thought  probably  he  had,  but  he 
wouldn't  commit  himself. 

"Well,  den,"  continued  the  old  man,  "nex*  time  you 
see  one  un  um,  you  look  right  close  en  see  ef  de  een' 
er  his  tail  ain't  w'ite.  Hit's  des  like  I  tell  you.  Dey 
b'ars  de  skyar  er  dat  bresh-heap  down  ter  dis  day. 
Dey  er  marked— dat's  w'at  dey  is— dey  er  marked." 

"And  what  about  Brother  Possum?"  asked  the  little 
boy. 

"Ole  Brer  Possum,  he  tuck  a  runnin*  start,  he  did, 
en  he  come  lumberin'  long,  en  he  lit— kerblaml— 
right  in  de  middle  er  de  fier,  en  dat  wuz  de  las'  er  ole 
Brer  Possum." 

"But,  Uncle  Remus,  Brother  Possum  didn't  steal 
the  butter  after  all,"  said  the  little  boy,  who  was  not 
at  all  satisfied  with  such  summary  injustice. 

"Dat  w'at  make  I  say  w'at  I  duz,  honey.  In  dis 
worril,  lots  er  fokes  is  gotter  suffer  fer  udder  fokes 
sins.  Look  like  hit's  mighty  on  wrong;  but  hit's  des 
dat  away.  Tribbalashun  seem  like  she's  a  waitin' 
roun'  de  cornder  fer  ter  ketch  one  en  all  un  us, 
honey." 

xvin 
MR.  RABBIT  FINDS  HIS  MATCH  AT  LAST 

"HiT  look  like  ter  me  dat  I  let  on  de  udder  night 
dat  in  dem  days  w'en  de  creeturs  wuz  santer'n  'roun' 


LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


same  like  fokes,  none  un  um  wuz  brash  miff  fer  tet 
ketch  up  wid  Brer  Rabbit,"  remarked  Uncle  Remus, 
reflectively. 

"Yes,"  replied  the  little  boy,  "that's  what  you  said." 
"Well,  den,"  continued  the  old  man  with  unction, 
"dar's  whar  my  'membunce  gin  out,  kaze  Brer  Rab 
bit  did  git  kotched  up  wid,  en  hit  cool  'im  off  like 
po'in'  spring  water  on  one  er  deze  yer  biggity  fices.'* 
"How  was  that,  Uncle  Remus?"  asked  the  little 
boy. 

"One  day  w'en  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  gwine  lippity- 
clippitin'  down  de  road,  he  meet  up  wid  ole  Brer 
Tarrypin,  en  atter  dey  pass  de  time  er  day  wid  wun- 

ner  nudder, 
Brer  Rabbit,  he 
low  dat  he  wuz 
much  *blije  ter 
Brer  Tarrypin 
fer  de  han'  he 
tuck  in  de  rum 
pus  dat  day 
down  at  Miss 
Meadows's." 
"When  he 

VMW 

dropped  off  of 

the  water-shelf  on  the  Fox's  head,"  suggested  the 
little  boy. 
"Dat's  de  same  time,  honey.  Den  Brer  Tarrypin 


MR.   RABBIT  FINDS   HIS   MATCH  AT  LAST  89 

low  dat  Brer  Fox  run  mighty  fas'  dat  day,  but  dat  ef 
he'd  er  bin  atter  'im  stidder  Brer  Rabbit,  he'd  er 
kotch  'im.  Brer  Rabbit  say  he  could  er  kotch  'im 
hisse'f  but  he  didn't  keer  'bout  leavin'  de  ladies.  Dey 
keep  on  talkin',  dey  did,  twel  bimeby  dey  gotter  'spu- 
tin*  *bout  w'ich  wuz  de  swif'es'.  Brer  Rabbit,  he  say 
he  kin  outrun  Brer  Tarrypin,  en  Brer  Tarrypin,  he 
des  vow  dat  he  kin  outrun  Brer  Rabbit.  Up  en  down 
dey  had  it,  twel  fus  news  you  know  Brer  Tarrypin  say 
he  got  a  fifty-dollar  bill  in  de  chink  er  de  chimbly  at 
home,  en  dat  bill  done  tole  'im  dat  he  could  beat  Brer 
Rabbit  in  a  fa  r  race.  Den  Brer  Rabbit  say  he  got  a 
fifty-dollar  bill  w'at  say  dat  he  kin  leave  Brer  Tarry- 
pin  so  fur  behime,  dat  he  could  sow  barley  ez  he 
went  'long  en  hit  'ud  be  ripe  nuff  fer  ter  cut  by  de 
time  Brer  Tarrypin  pass  dat  way. 

"Enny  how  dey  make  de  bet  en  put  up  de  money, 
en  old  Brer  Tukky  Buzzard,  he  wuz  summonzd  fet 
ter  be  de  jedge,  en  de  stakeholder;  en  'twan't  long  'fo' 
all  de  rangements  wuz  made.  De  race  wuz  a  five-mile 
heat,  en  de  groun*  wuz  medjud  off,  en  at  de  een'  er 
ev'ey  mile  a  pos'  wuz  stuck  up.  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  ter 
run  down  de  big  road,  en  Brer  Tarrypin,  he  say  he'd 
gallup  thoo  de  woods.  Fokes  tole  'im  he  could  git 
long  faster  in  de  road,  but  ole  Brer  Tarrypin,  he  know 
w'at  he  doin'.  Miss  Meadows  en  de  gals  en  mos'  all  de 
nabers  got  win'  er  de  fun,  en  w'en  de  day  wuz  sot  dey 
'termin'  fer  ter  be  on  han'.  Brer  Rabbit  he  train  his- 


90       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

se'f  ev'ey  day,  en  he  skip  over  de  groun'  des  ez  gayly 
ez  a  June  cricket.  Ole  Brer  Tarrypin,  he  lay  low  in  de 
swamp.  He  had  a  wife  en  th'ee  chilluns,  old  Brer 
Tarrypin  did,  en  dey  wuz  all  de  ve'y  spit  en  image  er 
de  ole  man.  Ennybody  w'at  know  one  fum  de  udder 
gotter  take  a  spy-glass,  en  den  dey  er  Ifble  fer  ter  git 
fooled. 

"Dat's  de  way  marters  stan'  twel  de  day  er  de 
race,  en  on  dat  day,  ole  Brer  Tarrypn,  en  his  ole 
'ornan,  en  his  th'ee  chilluns,  dey  got  up  'fo'  sun-up,  en 
went  ter  de  place.  De  ole  'oman,  she  tuck  'er  stan' 
nigh  de  fus'  mile-pos',  she  did,  en  de  chilluns  nigh  de 
udders,  up  ter  de  las',  en  dar  old  Brer  Tarrypin,  he 
tuck  his  stan'.  Bimeby,  here  come  de  fokes:  Jedge 
Buzzard,  he  come,  en  Miss  Meadows  en  de  gals,  dey 
come,  en  den  yer  come  Brer  Rabbit  wid  ribbons  tied 
'roun'  his  neck  en  streamin'  fum  his  years.  De  fokes 
all  went  ter  de  udder  een'  er  de  track  fer  ter  see 
how  dey  come  out.  Wen  de  time  come  Jedge  Buz 
zard  strut  'roun'  en  pull  out  his  watch,  en  holler 
out: 

"  'Gents,  is  you  ready?' 

"Brer  Rabbit,  he  say  *yes>'  en  old  Miss  Tarrypin 
holler  'go'  fum  de  aidge  er  de  woods.  Brer  Rabbit, 
he  lit  out  on  de  rate,  en  old  Miss  Tarrypin,  she  put 
out  for  home.  Jedge  Buzzard,  he  riz  en  skimmed  long 
fer  ter  see  dat  de  race  wuz  runned  fa'r.  Wen  Brer 
Babbit  got  ter  de  fus'  mile-pos'  wunner  de  Tarrypin 


MR.   RABBIT  FINDS   HIS   MATCH  AT  LAST 


91 


chilluns  crawl  out  de  woods,  he  did,  en  make  fer  de 
place.  Brer  Rabbit,  he  holler  out: 

'"Whar  is 
you,  Brer  Tar 
rypin?' 

'  'Yer  I  come 
a  bulgin','  sez 
de  Tarrypin, 
sezee. 

"Brer  Rabbit 
so     glad     he's  ( 
ahead    dat   he 
put  out  harder 
dan  ever,  en  de 
Tarrypin,  he  make  fer  home.  Wen  he  come  ter  de 
nex'  pos',  nudder  Tarrypin  crawl  out  er  de  woods. 

"Whar  is  you,  Brer  Tarrypin?'  sez  Brer  Rabbit, 
sezee. 

'  'Yer  I  come  a  bilin','  sez  de  Tarrypin,  sezee. 

"Brer  Rabbit,  he  lit  out,  he  did,  en  come  ter  nex* 
pos',  en  dar  wuz  de  Tarrypin.  Den  he  come  ter  nex', 
en  dar  wuz  de  Tarrypin.  Den  he  had  one  mo'  mile 
fer  ter  run,  en  he  feel  like  he  gittin'  bellust.  Bimeby, 
ole  Brer  Tarrypin  look  way  off  down  de  road  en  he 
see  Jedge  Buzzard  sailin'  'long  en  he  know  hit's  time 
fer  'im  fer  ter  be  up.  So  he  scramble  outen  de  woods, 
en  roll  'cross  de  ditch,  en  shuffle  thoo  de  crowd  er 
folks  en  git  ter  de  mile-pos'  en  crawl  behime  it. 


92 


LEGENDS   OF   THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


Bimeby,  fus'  news  you  know,  yer  come  Brer  Rabbit. 
He  look  'roun'  en  he  don't  see  Brer  Tarrypin,  en  den 
he  squall  out: 

"  'Gimme  de 
money,  Brer 
Buzzard,  Gimme 
de  money!' 

"Den  Miss 
Meadows  en  de 
gals,  dey  holler 
and  laff  fit  ter 
kill  deyse'f,  en 
ole  Brer  Tarry- 
pin,  he  raise  up 
fum  behime  de 
pos'  en  sez,  sezee: 

"Ef  youll  gimme  time  fer  ter  ketch  my  breff,  gents 
en  ladies,  one  en  all,  I  speck  111  finger  dat  money 
myse'f,'  sezee,  en  sho  nuff,  Brer  Tarrypin  tie  de  pu's 
'roun'  his  neck  en  skaddle  *  off  home." 

"But,  Uncle  Remus,"  said  the  little  boy,  dolefully, 
''that  was  cheating." 

'"Co'se,  honey.  De  creeturs  'gun  ter  cheat,  en  den 
fokes  tuck  it  up,  en  hit  keep  on  spreadin'.  Hit  mighty 

*  It  may  be  interesting  to  note  here  that  in  all  probability  the 
word  "skedaddle,"  about  which  there  was  some  controversy  during 
the  war,  came  from  the  Virginia  negro's  use  of  "skaddle,"  which  is 
a  corruption  of  "scatter."  The  matter,  however,  is  hardly  worth 
referring  to. 


THE   FATE  OF   MR.   JACK   SPARROW  93 

ketchin',  en  you  mine  yo'  eye,  honey,  dat  somebody 
don't  cheat  you  'f  o'  yo'  ha  r  git  gray  ez  de  ole  nigger's." 


XIX 

THE  FATE  OF  MR.  JACK  SPARROW 

"YOU'LL  tromple  on  dat  bark  twel  hit  won't  be 
fitten  fer  ter  fling  'way,  let  lone  make  hoss-collars 
out'n,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  as  the  little  boy  came  run 
ning  into  his  cabin  out  of  the  rain.  All  over  the  floor 
long  strips  of  "wahoo"  bark  were  spread,  and  these 
the  old  man  was  weaving  into  horse-collars. 

"Ill  sit  down,  Uncle  Remus,"  said  the  little  boy. 

'Well,  den,  you  better,  honey,"  responded  the  old 
man,  "kaze  I  'spizes  fer  ter  have  my  wahoo  trompled 
on.  Ef  'twuz  shucks,  now,  hit  mout  be  diffunt,  but  I'm 
a  gittin'  too  ole  fer  ter  be  projickin'  longer  shuck 
collars." 

For  a  few  minutes  the  old  man  went  on  with  his 
work,  but  with  a  solemn  air  altogether  unusual.  Once 
or  twice  he  sighed  deeply,  and  the  sighs  ended  in  a 
prolonged  groan,  that  seemed  to  the  little  boy  to  be 
the  result  of  the  most  unspeakable  mental  agony.  He 
knew  by  experience  that  he  had  done  something 
which  failed  to  meet  the  approval  of  Uncle  Remus, 
and  he  tried  to  remember  what  it  was,  so  as  to  frame 
an  excuse;  but  his  memory  failed  him.  He  could  think 
of  nothing  he  had  done  calculated  to  stir  Uncle 


94       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

Remus's  grief.  He  was  not  exactly  seized  with  re 
morse,  but  he  was  very  uneasy.  Presently  Uncle 
Remus  looked  at  him  in  a  sad  and  hopeless  way,  and 
asked: 

"Wat  dat  long  rigmarole  you  bin  tellin'  Miss  Sally 
*bout  yo'  little  brer  dis  mawnin?" 

'Which,  Uncle  Remus?"  asked  the  little  boy, 
blushing  guiltily. 

"Dat  des  w'at  I'm  a  axin*  un  you  now.  I  hear  Miss 
Sally  say  she's  a  gwineter  stripe  his  jacket,  en  den  I 
knowed  you  bin  tellin'  on  'im." 

"Well,  Uncle  Remus,  he  was  pulling  up  your 
onions,  and  then  he  went  and  flung  a  rock  at  me,** 
said  the  child,  plaintively. 

"Lemme  tell  you  dis,"  said  the  old  man,  laying 
down  the  section  of  horse-collar  he  had  been  plaiting, 
and  looking  hard  at  the  little  boy— "lemme  tell  you 
dis— der  ain't  no  way  fer  ter  make  tattlers  en  tail- 
b'arers  turn  out  good.  No,  dey  ain't.  I  bin  mixin' 
up  wid  fokes  now  gwine  on  eighty  year,  en  I  ain't 
seed  no  tattler  come  ter  no  good  een'.  Dat  I  ain't. 
En  ef  ole  man  M'thoozlum  wuz  livin'  clean  twel  yit, 
he'd  up'n  tell  you  de  same.  Sho  ez  youer  settin'  dar. 
You  'member  w'at  'come  er  de  bird  w'at  went  tattlin' 
roun'  'bout  Brer  Rabbit?" 

The  little  boy  didn't  remember,  but  he  was  very 
anxious  to  know,  and  he  also  wanted  to  know  what 
kind  of  a  bird  it  was  that  so  disgraced  itself. 


"Hit  wuz  wun- 
ner  dese  yer  uppity 
little  Jack  Sparrers, 
I  speck,"  said  the 
old  man;  "dey  wuz 
allers  bodder'n 
longer  udder 
fokes's  bizness,  en 
dey  keeps  at  it 
down  ter  dis  day— 
peckin'  yer,  en 
pickin'  dar,  en 
scratchin'  out  yan- 
der.  One  day,  atter 
he  bin  fool  by  ole 
Brer  Tarrypin,  Brer 
Rabbit  wuz  settin' 
down  in  de  woods 
studdyin'  how  he 
wuz  gwineter  git 
even.  He  feel 
mighty  lonesome, 
an  he  feel  mighty 
mad,  Brer  Rabbit 


96       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

did.  Tain't  put  down  in  de  tale,  but  I  speck  he  cusst 
en  r'ar'd  'roun'  considerbul.  Leas'ways,  he  wuz  settin 
out  dar  by  hisse'f,  en  dar  he  sot,  en  study  en  study, 
twel  bimeby  he  jump  up  en  holler  out: 

"  Well,  dog- gone  my  cats  ef  I  can't  gallop  'roun' 
ale  Brer  Fox,  en  I'm  gwineter  do  it.  Ill  show  Miss 
Meadows  en  de  gals  dat  I'm  de  boss  er  Brer  Fox,' 
sezee. 

"Jack  Sparrer  up  in  de  tree,  he  hear  Brer  Rabbit, 
he  did,  en  he  sing  out: 

"  I'm  gwine  tell  Brer  Fox!  I'm  gwine  tell  Brer  Fox! 
Chick-a-biddy-win'-a-blowin'-acuns-fallin'l  I'm  gwine 
tell  Brer  Fox!'" 

Uncle  Remus  accompanied  the  speech  of  the  bird 
with  a  peculiar  whistling  sound  in  his  throat,  that  was 
a  marvelous  imitation  of  a  sparrow's  chirp,  and  the 
little  boy  clapped  his  hands  with  delight,  and  insisted 
on  a  repetition. 

"Dis  kinder  tarrify  Brer  Rabbit,  en  he  skasely  know 
w'at  he  gwine  do;  but  bimeby  he  study  ter  hisse'f  dat 
de  man  w'at  see  Brer  Fox  fus  wuz  boun'  ter  have  de 
inturn,  en  den  he  go  hoppin'  off  to'rds  home.  He 
didn't  got  fur  w'en  who  should  he  meet  but  Brer  Fox, 
en  den  Brer  Rabbit,  he  open  up: 

"W'at  dis  twix'  you  en  me,  Brer  Fox?'  sez  Brer 
Rabbit,  sezee.  1  hear  tell  you  gwine  ter  sen'  me  ter 
'struckshun,  en  nab  my  fambly,  en  'stroy  my  shanty/ 
sezee. 


THE  FATE  OF  MR.   JACK  SPARROW 


97 


!<  'Den  Brer  Fox  he  git  mighty  mad. 

"  'Who  bin  tellin'  you  all  dis?'  sezee. 

"Brer  Rabbit  make  like  he  didn't  want  ter  tell,  but 
Brer  Fox  he  'sist  en  'sist,  twel  at  las'  Brer  Rabbit  he 
up  en  tell  Brer  Fox  dat  he  hear  Jack  Sparrer  say 
all  dis. 

"'Co'se,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee,  'w'en  Brer  Jack 
Sparrer  tell  me  dat  I  flew  up,  I  did,  en  I  use  some 
langwidge  w'ich  I'm  mighty  glad  dey  weren't  no 
ladies  'round'  nowhars  so  dey  could  hear  me  go  on,' 
sezee. 

"Brer  Fox  he  sorter  gap,  he  did,  en  say  he  speck 
he  better  be  sa'nter'n  on.  But,  bless  yo'  soul,  honey, 
Brer  Fox  ain't  sa'nter  fur,  'fo'  Jack  Sparrer  flipp  down 
on  a  'simmon-bush  by  de  side  er  de  road,  en  holler 
out: 

"  'Brer  Fox!  Oh,  Brer  Fox!-Brer  Fox!' 

"Brer  Fox  he 
des  sorter  can- 
ter  long,  he 
did,  en  make 
like  he  don't 
hear  'im.  Den 
Jack  Sparrer 
up'n  sing  out 
agin: 

"'Brer  Fox! 
Oh,  Brer  Fox? 


98       LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

Hole  on,  Brer  Fox!  I  got  some  news  fer  you.  Wait 
Brer  Fox!  Hitll  'stonish  you.' 

"Brer  Fox  he  make  like  he  don't  see  Jack  Sparrer, 
tier  needer  do  he  hear  'im,  but  bimeby  he  lay  down 
by  de  road,  en  sorter  stretch  hisse'f  like  he  fixin'  fer 
ter  nap.  De  tattlin'  Jack  Sparrer  he  flew'd  'long,  en 
keep  on  callin'  Brer  Fox,  but  Brer  Fox,  he  ain't  sayin* 
nuthin'.  Den  little  Jack  Sparrer,  he  hop  down  on  de 
groun'  en  flutter  'roun'  'mongst  de  trash.  Dis  sorter 
'track  Brer  Fox  'tenshun,  en  he  look  at  de  tattlin' 
bird,  en  de  bird  he  keep  on  callin': 

"  1  got  sump'n  fer  ter  tell  you,  Brer  Fox.' 

"  'Git  on  my  tail,  little  Jack  Sparrer,'  sez  Brer  Fox, 
sezee,  Icaze  I'm  de'f  in  one  year,  en  I  can't  hear 
out'n  de  udder.  Git  on  my  tail,'  sezee. 

"Den  de  little  bird  he  up'n  hop  on  Brer  Fox's 
tail. 

"  'Git  on  my  back,  little  Jack  Sparrer,  kaze  I'm  de'f 
in  one  year  en  I  can't  hear  out'n  de  udder.' 

"Den  de  little  bird  hop  on  his  back. 

"'Hop  on  my  head,  little  Jack  Sparrer,  kaze  I'm 
de'f  in  bofe  years.' 

"Up  hop  de  little  bird. 

"'Hop  on  my  toof,  little  Jack  Sparrer,  kaze  I'm 
de'f  in  one  year  en  I  can't  hear  out'n  de  udder.' 

"De  tattlin'  little  bird  hop  on  Brer  Fox's  toof,  en 
den-" 

Here  Uncle  Remus  paused,  opened  wide  his  moutia 


HOW   MR.    RABBIT  SAVED  HIS   MEAT  99 

and  closed  it  again  in  a  way  that  told  the  whole 
story.* 

"Did  the  Fox  eat  the  bird  all-all-up?"  asked  the 
little  boy. 

"Jedge  B  ar  come  'long  nex'  day,"  replied  Uncle 
Remus,  "en  he  fine  some  fedders,  en  fum  dat  word 
went  roun'  dat  ole  man  Squinch  Owl  done  kotch  nud- 
der  watzizname." 


XX 

HOW  MR.  RABBIT  SAVED  HIS  MEAT 

"ONE  time,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  whetting  his  knife 
slowly  and  thoughtfully  on  the  palm  of  his  hand,  and 
gazing  reflectively  in  the  fire— "one  time  Brer 
Wolf-" 

"Why,  Uncle  Remus!"  the  little  boy  broke  in,  "I 
thought  you  said  the  Rabbit  scalded  the  Wolf  to 
death  a  long  time  ago." 

The  old  man  was  fairly  caught  and  he  knew  it; 
but  this  made  little  difference  to  him.  A  frown  gath- 

*  An  Atlanta  friend  heard  this  story  in  Florida,  but  an  alli 
gator  was  substituted  for  the  fox,  and  a  little  boy  for  the  rabbit. 
There  is  another  version  in  which  the  impertinent  gosling  goes  to 
tell  the  fox  something  her  mother  has  said,  and  is  caught;  and 
there  may  be  other  versions.  I  have  adhered  to  the  middle 
Georgia  version,  which  is  characteristic  enough.  It  may  be  well  to 
state  that  there  are  different  versions  of  all  the  stories— the  shrewd 
narrators  of  the  mythology  of  the  old  plantation  adapting  them' 
selves  with  ready  tact  to  the  years,  tastes,  and  expectations  of  their 
juvenile  audiences 


100  LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

ered  on  his  usually  serene  brow  as  he  turned  his  gaze 
upon  the  child— a  frown  in  which  both  scorn  and  in> 
dignation  were  visible.  Then  all  at  once  he  seemed 
to  regain  control  of  himself.  The  frown  was  chased 
away  by  a  look  of  Christian  resignation. 

"Dar  now!  Wat  I  tell  you?"  he  exclaimed  as  if  ad 
dressing  a  witness  concealed  under  the  bed.  "Ain't 
I  done  tole  you  so?  Bless  grashus!  ef  chilluns  ain't 
gittin'  so  dey  knows  mo'n  ole  fokes,  en  deyll  spute 
longer  you  en  spute  longer  you,  ceppin  der  ma  call 
um,  w'ich  I  speck  twon't  be  long  'fo'  she  will,  en  den 
111  set  yere  by  de  chimbly-cornder  en  git  some  peace 
er  mine.  Wen  ole  Miss  wuz  livin',"  continued  the  old 
man,  still  addressing  some  imaginary  person,  'liit  'uz 
mo'n  enny  her  chilluns  'ud  dast  ter  do  ter  come 
'sputin'  longer  me,  en  Mars  Johnll  tell  you  de  same 
enny  day  you  ax  'im." 

"Well,  Uncle  Remus,  you  know  you  said  the  Rab 
bit  poured  hot  water  on  the  Wolf  and  killed  him," 
said  the  little  boy. 

The  old  man  pretended  not  to  hear.  He  was  en 
gaged  in  searching  among  some  scraps  of  leather 
under  his  chair,  and  kept  on  talking  to  the  imaginary 
person.  Finally,  he  found  and  drew  forth  a  nicely 
plaited  whip-thong  with  a  red  snapper  all  waxed  and 
knotted. 

"I  wuz  fixin'  up  a  wi'p  fer  a  little  chap,"  he  con 
tinued,  with  a  sigh,  "but,  bless  grashus!  'fo'  I  kin  git 


HOW  MR.   RABBIT  SAVED  HIS   MEAT  101 

'er  done,  de  little  chap  done  grow'd  up  twel  he  know 
mo'n  I  duz." 

The  child's  eyes  filled  with  tears  and  his  lips  be 
gan  to  quiver,  but  he  said  nothing;  whereupon  Uncle 
Remus  immediately  melted. 

"I  'clar'  to  goodness,"  he  said,  reaching  out  and 
taking  the  little  boy  tenderly  by  the  hand,  "ef  you 
ain't  de  ve'y  spit  en  image  er  ole  Miss  w'en  I  brung 
'er  de  las'  news  er  de  war.  Hit's  des  like  skeerin'  up 
a  ghos'  w'at  you  ain't  fear'd  un." 

Then  there  was  a  pause,  the  old  man  patting  the 
little  child's  hand  caressingly. 

"You  ain't  mad,  is  you,  honey?"  Uncle  Remus 
asked  finally,  "kaze  ef  you  is,  I'm  gwine  out  yere  en 
butt  my  head  'gin  de  do'  jam'." 

But  the  little  boy  wasn't  mad.  Uncle  Remus  had 
conquered  him  and  he  had  conquered  Uncle  Remus 
in  pretty  much  the  same  way  before.  But  it  was  some 
time  before  Uncle  Remus  would  go  on  with  the  story. 
He  had  to  be  coaxed.  At  last,  however,  he  settled 
himself  back  in  the  chair  and  began: 

"Co'se,  honey,  hit  mout  er  bin  ole  Brer  Wolf,  er  hit 
mout  er  bin  er  n'er  Brer  Wolf;  it  mout  er  bin  'fo'  he 
got  kotch  up  wid,  er  it  mout  er  bin  atterwards.  Ez 
de  tale  wer  gun  to  me  des  dat  away  I  gin  it  unter 
you.  One  time  Brer  Wolf  wuz  comin'  'long  home  fum 
a  fishin*  frolic.  He  s'anter  'long  de  road,  he  did,  wid 
his  string  er  fish  'cross  his  shoulder,  wen  fus  news 


102 


LEGENDS   OF  THE   OLD  PLANTATION 


you  know  ole  Miss  Pa'tridge,  she  hop  outer  de  bushes 
en  flutter  long  right  at  Brer  Wolf  nose.  Brer  Woli 
he  say  ter  hisse'f  dat  ole  Miss  Pa'tridge  tryin'  fer  ter 
toll  'im  'way  fum  her  nes',  en  wid  dat  he  lay  his  fish 
down  en  put  out  inter  de  bushes  whar  ole  Miss 
Pa'tridge  come  fum,  en  'bout  dat  time  Brer  Rabbit, 
he  happen  long.  Dar  wuz  de  fishes,  en  dar  wuz 
Brer  Rabbit,  en  w'en  dat  de  case  w'at  you  speck 
a  sorter  innerpen'ent  man  like  Brer  Rabbit  gwine  do? 
I  kin  tell  you  dis,  dat  dem  fishes  ain't  stay  whar 
Brer  Wolf  put  um  at,  en  w'en  Brer  Wolf  come 

back  dey  wuz  gone. 
"Brer  Wolf,  he  sot 
down  en  scratch  his 
head,  he  did,  en 
study  en  study,  en 
den  hit  sorter  rush 
inter  his  mine  dat 
Brer  Rabbit  bin  long 
dar,  en  den  Brer 
Wolf,  he  put  out  fer 
Brer  Rabbit  house, 
en  w'en  he  git  dar  he 
hail  'im.  Brer  Rabbit, 
he  dunno  nuthin'  tall 
T)out  no  fishes.  Brer 
Wolf  he  up'n  say  he 
bleedzd  ter  bleeve 


HOW   MR.   RABBIT  SAVED   HIS   MEAT  103 

Brer  Rabbit  got  dem  fishes.  Brer  Rabbit  'ny  it  up 
en  down,  but  Brer  Wolf  stan'  to  it  dat  Brer  Rabbit 
got  dem  fishes.  Brer  Rabbit,  he  say  dat  if  Brer  Wolf 
bleeve  he  got  de  fishes,  den  he  give  Brer  Wolf  lief 
fer  ter  kill  de  bes'  cow  he  got.  Brer  Wolf,  he  tuck 
Brer  Rabbit  at  his  word,  en  go  off  ter  de  pastur'  en 
drive  up  de  cattle  en  kill  Brer  Rabbit  bes'  cow. 

"Brer  Rabbit,  he  hate  mighty  bad  fer  ter  lose  his 
cow,  but  he  lay  nis  plans,  en  he  tell  his  chilluns  dat 
he  gwineter  have  dat  beef  yit.  Brer  Wolf,  he  bin  tuck 
up  by  de  patter-rollers  'fo'  now,  en  he  mighty  skeerd 
un  um,  en  fus  news  you  know,  yer  come  Brer  Rabbit 
hollerin'  en  tellin'  Brer  Wolf  dat  de  patter-rollers 
comin'. 

"You  run  en  hide,  Brer  Wolf,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit, 
sezee,  'en  I'll  stay  yer  en  take  keer  er  de  cow  twel 
you  gits  back,'  sezee. 

"Soon's  Brer  Wolf  hear  talk  er  de  patter-rollers, 
he  scramble  off  inter  de  underbrush  like  he  bin  shot 
out'n  a  gun.  En  he  want  mo'n  gone  'fo'  Brer  Rabbit, 
he  whirl  in  en  skunt  de  cow  en  salt  de  hide  down,  en 
den  he  tuck'n  cut  up  de  kyarkiss  en  stow  it  'way  in 
de  smoke-'ouse,  en  den  he  tuck'n  stick  de  een'  er  de 
cow-tail  in  de  groun'.  Atter  he  gone  en  done  ah1  dis, 
den  Brer  Rabbit  he  squall  out  fer  Brer  Wolf: 

"  'Run  yer,  Brer  Wolf  I  Run  yer!  Yo'  cow  gwine  in 
de  groun'l  Run  yer!' 


104  LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

'Wen  ole  Brer  Wolf  got  dar,  w'ich  he  come  er 
scootin',  dar  wuz  Brer  Rabbit  hol'm'  v»n  ter  de  cow- 
tail,  fer  ter  keep  it  fum  gwine  in  de  groun'.  Brer 
Wolf,  he  kotch  holt,  en  dey  'gin  a  pull  er  two  en  up 
come  de  tail.  Den  Brer  Rabbit,  he  wink  'iis  off  eye  en 
say,  sezee: 

"  'Dar!  de  tail  done  pull  out  en  de  cow  gone,'  sezee. 

"But  Brer  Wolf  he  wer'n't  de  n>an  fer  ter  give  it 
up  dat  away,  en  he  got  'im  a  spade,  ^n  a  pick-axe,  en 
a  shovel,  en  he  dig  en  dig  fer  dat  cow  twel  diggin' 
wuz  pas'  all  endu'unce,  en  ole  Brer  Rabbit  he  sot  up 
dar  in  his  front  po'ch  en  smoke  his  seegyar.  Eve'y 
time  ole  Brer  Wolf  stuck  de  pick-axe  in  de  clay,  Brer 
Rabbit,  he  giggle  ter  his  chilluns: 

diggy,  diggy,  diggy,  but  no  meat  dar!  He 
'  diggy,  diggy,  but  no  meat  dar!' 

"Kase  all  de  time  de  cow  wuz  layin'  pile  up  in  his 
smokehouse,  en  him  en  his  chilluns  wuz  eatin'  fried 
beef  an  inguns  eve'y  time  dey  mouf  water. 

"Now  den,  honey,  you  take  dis  yer  w'ip,"  con 
tinued  the  old  man,  twining  the  leather  thong  around 
the  little  boy's  neck,  "en  scamper  up  ter  de  big  'ousc 
en  tell  Miss  Sally  fer  ter  gin  y9u  some  un  it  de 
time  she  fine  yo'  tracks  in  de  sugar-bairL" 


"Run  yer,  Brer  Wolf!  Yo'  cow  gwine  in  de  grounV 


MR.   RABBIT  MEETS   HIS   MATCH  AGAIN  105 

XXI 

MR.  RABBIT  MEETS  HIS  MATCH  AGAIN 

"DERE  wuz  nudder  man  dat  sorter  play  it  sharp  on 
Brer  Rabbit,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  as,  by  some  mysteri 
ous  process,  he  twisted  a  hog's  bristle  into  the  end  of 
a  piece  of  thread— an  operation  which  the  little  boy 
watched  with  great  interest.  "In  dem  days,"  con 
tinued  the  old  man,  "de  creeturs  kyar'd  on  marters 
same  ez  fokes.  Dey  went  inter  fahmin',  en  I  speck  ef 
de  troof  wuz  ter  come  out,  dey  kep'  sto',  en  had  del 
camp-meetin'  times  en  der  bobbycues'  w'en  de  wed- 
der  wuz  'greeble." 

Uncle  Remus  evidently  thought  that  the  little  boy 
wouldn't  like  to  hear  of  any  further  discomfiture  of 
Brer  Rabbit,  who  had  come  to  be  a  sort  of  hero,  and 
he  was  not  mistaken. 

"I  thought  the  Terrapin  was  the  only  one  that 
fooled  the  Rabbit/'  said  the  little  boy,  dismally. 

"Hit's  des  like  I  tell  you,  honey.  Dey  ain't  no 
smart  man,  'cep'  w'at  dey's  a  smarter.  Ef  ole  Brer 
Rabbit  hadn't  er  got  kotch  up  wid,  de  nabers  'ud  er 
took  'im  for  a  h'ant,  en  in  dem  times  dey  bu'ot 
witches  'fo'  you  could  squinch  yo'  eyeballs.  Dey  did 
dat." 

"Who  fooled  the  Rabbit  this  time?"  the  little  boy 
asked. 


106 


LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


When  Uncle  Remus  had  the  bristle  "sot"  in  the 
thread,  he  proceeded  with  the  story: 

"One  time  Brer  Rabbit  en  ole  Brer  Buzzard  'eluded 
dey'd  sorter  go  snacks,  en  crap  tergedder.  Hit  wuz  a 


mighty  good  year,  en  de  truck  tu'n  out  monstus  well, 
but  bimeby,  w'en  de  time  come  fer  dividjun,  hit 
come  ter  light  dat  ole  Brer  Buzzard  ain't  got  nuthin*. 
De  crap  wuz  all  gone,  en  dey  want  nuthin'  dar  fer 
ter  show  fer  it.  Brer  Rabbit,  he  make  like  he  in  a  wuss 
fix'n  Brer  Buzzard,  en  he  mope  roun',  he  did,  like  ho 
fear'd  dey  gwineter  sell  'im  out. 

"Brer  Buzzard,  he  ain't  sayin*  nuthin',  but  he  keep 
up  a  monstus  thinking  en  one  day  he  come  long  en 


MR.   RABBIT   MEETS  HIS   MATCH  AGAIN  l.OT 

holler  en  tell  Brer  Rabbit  dat  he  done  fine  rich  gole- 
mine  des  'cross  de  river. 

*'You  come  en  go  longer  me,  Brer  Rabbit,'  sez 
Brer  Tukky  Buzzard,  sezee.  'Ill  scratch  en  you  kin 
grabble,  en  'tween  de  two  un  us  well  make  short 
wuk  er  dat  gole-mine,'  sezee. 

"Brer  Rabbit,  he  wuz  high  up  fer  de  job,  but  he 
study  en  study,  he  did,  how  he  gwinter  git  'cross  de 
water,  kaze  ev'y  time  he  git  his  foot  wet  all  de  fambly 
kotch  cole.  Den  he  up'n  ax  Brer  Buzzard  how  he 
gwine  do,  en  Brer  Buzzard  he  up'n  say  dat  he  kyar 
Brer  Rabbit  'cross,  en  wid  dat  ole  Brer  Buzzard,  he 
squot  down,  he  did,  en  spread  his  wings,  en  Brer 
Rabbit,  he  mounted,  en  up  dey  riz."  There  was  a 
pause. 

"What  did  the  Buzzard  do  then?"'  asked  the  little 
boy. 

"Dey  riz,"  continued  Uncle  Remus,  "en  w'en  dey 
lit,  dey  lit  in  de  top  er  de  highest  sorter  pine,  en  de 
pine  w'at  dey  lit  in  wuz  growin'  on  er  ilun,  en  de  ilun 
wuz  in  de  middle  er  de  river,  wid  de  deep  water 
runnin'  all  'roun'.  Dey  ain't  mo'n  lit  'fo'  Brer  Rabbit, 
he  know  w'ich  way  de  win'  'uz  blowin',  en  by  de  time 
ole  Brer  Buzzard  got  hisse'f  ballunce  on  a  lim',  Bret 
Rabbit,  he  up'n  say,  sezee: 

*  Wiles  we  er  res'n  here,  Brer  Buzzard,  en  bein's 
you  bin  so  good,  I  got  sump'n  fer  ter  tell  you,'  sezee. 
*I  got  a  gole-mine  er  my  own,  one  w'at  I  make  my 


108      LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

se'f,  en  I  speck  we  better  go  back  ter  mine  'fo'  we 

bodder  longer  yone,'  sezee. 
"Den  ole  Brer  Buzzard,  he  laff,  he  did,  twel  he 

.shake,  en  Brer  Rabbit,  he  sing  out: 

"Hole  on,  Brer  Buzzard!  Don't  flop  yo'  wings  w'en 

you  laff,  kaze  den  if  you 
duz,  sump'n  'ill  drap  f  um 
up  yer,  en  my  gole-mine 
won't  do  you  no  good, 
;en  needer  will  yone  do 
me  no  good.' 

"But  'fo'  dey  got 
down  fum  dar,  Brer 
Rabbit  done  tole  all 
'bout  de  crap,  en  he 
hatter  promus  fer  ter 
Vide  far  en  squar.  So 
Brer  Buzzard,  he  kyar 

'im  back,  en  Brer  Rabbit  he  walk  weak  in  de  knees  a 

mont'  atterwuds." 


xxn 
A  STORY  ABOUT  THE  LITTLE  RABBITS 

"FINE  um  whar  you  will  en  w'en  you  may,"  re 
marked  Uncle  Remus  with  emphasis,  "good  chilluns 
allers  gits  tuck  keer  on.  Dar  wuz  Brer  Rabbit's  chil 
luns;  dey  minded  der  daddy  en  mammy  fum  day's  een" 


A  STORY  ABOUT  THE  LITTLE  RABBITS  109 

ter  day's  een'.  Wen  ole  man  Rabbit  say  'scoot/  dey 
scooted,  en  w'en  ole  Miss  Rabbit  say  'scat/  dey 
scatted.  Dey  did  dat.  En  dey  kep  der  cloze  clean, 
en  dey  ain't  had  no  smut  on  der  nose  nudder." 

Involuntarily  the  hand  of  the  little  boy  went  up  to 
his  face,  and  he  scrubbed  the  end  of  his  nose  with  his 
coat-sleeve. 

"Dey  wuz  good  chilluns,"  continued  the  old  man, 
heartily,  "en  ef  dey  hadn't  er  bin,  der  wuz  one  time 
w'en  dey  wouldn't  er  bin  no  little  rabbits— na'er  one. 
Dat's  w  at." 

"What  time  was  that,  Uncle  Remus?"  the  little  boy 
asked. 

"De  time  w'en  Brer  Fox  drapt  in  at  Brer  Rabbit 
house,  en  didn't  foun'  nobody  dar  ceppin'  de  little 
Rabbits.  Ole  Brer  Rabbit,  he  wuz  off  some  rs  raiding 
on  a  collard  patch,  en  ole  Miss  Rabbit  she  wuz  tendin' 
on  a  quiltin'  in  de  naberhood,  en  wiles  de  little  Rab 
bits  wuz  playin'  hidin'-switch,  in  drapt  Brer  Fox. 
De  little  Rabbits  wuz  so  fat  dat  dey  fa'rly  make  his 
mouf  water,  but  he  'member  *bout  Brer  Wolf,  en  he 
skeered  fer  ter  gobble  um  up  ceppin'  he  got  some 
skuse.  De  little  Rabbits,  dey  mighty  skittish,  en  dey 
sorter  huddle  deyse'f  up  tergedder  en  watch  Brer 
Fox  motions.  Brer  Fox,  he  sot  dar  en  study  w'at 
sorter  skuse  he  gwineter  make  up.  Bimeby  he  see  a 
great  big  stalk  er  sugar-cane  stan'in'  up  in  de  cornder, 
en  he  cle'r  up  his  th'oat  en  talk  biggity: 


110 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


'  Ter!  you  young  Rabs  dar,  sail  'roun*  yer  en  broke 

me  a  piece  er  dat  sweetnin'-tree,'  sezee,  en  den  he  koff. 

"De  little  Rabbits,  dey  got  out  de  sugar-cane,  dey 

did,  en  dey  rastle  wid  it,  en  sweat  over  it,  but  twan't 

no  use.  Dey 
couldn't  broke 
it.  Brer  Fox,  he 
make  like  he 
ain't  watching 
but  he  keep  on 
holler'n: 

"  'Hurry  up 
dar,  Rabs!  I'm  a 
waitin*  on  you/ 
"En  de  little 
Rabbits,  dey 
hustle  'roun'  en  rastle  wid  it,  but  they  couldn't  broke 
it.  Bimeby  dey  hear  little  bird  singin'  on  top  er  de 
house,  en  de  song  w'at  de  little  bird  sing  wuz  dish 
yer: 

"  'Take  yo'  toofies  en  gnyaw  it, 
Take  yo'  toofies  en  saw  it, 
Saw  it  en  yoke  it, 
En  den  you  kin  broke  it.' 

"Den  de  little  Rabbits,  dey  git  mighty  glad,  en 
dey  gnyawed  de  cane  mos'  'fo'  'ole  Brer  Fox  could  git 
his  legs  oncrosst,  en  w'en  dey  kyard  'im  de  cane,  Brer 
Fox,  he  sot  dar  en  study  how  he  gwineter  make  some 


A  STORY  ABOUT  THE  UTTLE  RABBITS 


111 


mo*  skuse  fer  nabbin*  un  um,  en  bimeby  he  git  up  en 
git  down  de  sifter  w'at  wuz  hangin'  on  de  wall,  en 
holler  out: 

"'Come  yer,  Rabs!  Take  dish  yer  sifter,  en  run 
down't  de  spring  en  fetch  me  some  fresh  water/ 

"De  little  Rabbits,  dey  run  down't  de  spring,  en 
try  ter  dip  up  de  water  wid  de  sifter,  but  co'se  hit  all 
run  out,  en  hit  keep  on  runnin*  out,  twell  bimeby  de 
little  Rabbits  sot  down  en  'gun  ter  cry.  Den  de  little 


bird  settin*  up  in  de  tree  he  begin  fer  ter  sing,  en  dish 
yer's  de  song  w'at  he  sing: 

"'Sifter  hole  water  same  ez  a  tray, 

Ef  you  fill  it  wid  moss  en  dob  it  wid  clay; 
De  Fox  git  madder  de  longer  you  stay— 
Fill  it  wid  moss  en  dob  it  wid  clay/ 

"Up  dey  jump,  de  little  Rabbits  did,  en  dey  fix  de 
sifter  so  'twon't  leak,  en  den  dey  kyar  de  water  ter  ole 


112  LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

Brer  Fox.  Den  Brer  Fox  he  git  mighty  mad,  en  p'int 
out  a  great  big  stick  er  wood,  en  tell  de  little  Rabbits 
fer  ter  put  dat  on  de  fier.  De  little  chaps  dey  got 
'roun'  de  wood,  dey  did,  en  dey  lif  at  it  so  hard  twel 
dey  could  see  der  own  sins,  but  de  wood  ain't  budge. 
Den  dey  hear  de  little  bird  singin',  en  dish  yer's  de 
song  w'at  he  sing: 

"'Spit  in  yo'  ban's  en  tug  it  en  toll  it, 
En  git  behine  it,  en  push  it,  en  pole  it; 
Spit  in  yo'  han's  en  r'ar  back  en  roll  it/ 

"En  des  *bout  de  time  dey  got  de  wood  on  de  fier, 
der  daddy,  he  come  skippin'  in,  en  de  little  bird,  he 
flew'd  away.  Brer  Fox,  he  seed  his  game  wuz  up,  en 
"twan't  long  'fo'  he  make  his  skuse  en  start  fer  ter  go. 

<4You  better  stay  en  take  a  snack  wid  me,  Brer 
Fox/  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee.  "Sence  Brer  Wolf  done 
quite  comin'  en  settin'  up  wid  me,  I  gittin'  so  I  feels 
right  lonesome  dese  long  nights/  sezee. 

"But  Brer  Fox.  he  button  up  his  coat-collar  tight 
en  des  put  out  fer  home.  En  dat  w'at  you  better  do, 
honey,  kaze  I  see  Miss  Sally's  shadder  sailin'  backerds 
en  for'ds  'fo'  de  winder,  en  de  fus'  news  you  know 
she'll  be  spectin'  un  you/' 


MR.   RABBIT  AND  MR.   BEAR  113 


xxm 
MR.  RABBIT  AND  MR.  BEAR 

wuz  one  season,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  pulling 
thoughtfully  at  his  whiskers,  "v/en  Brer  Fox  say  to 
hisse'f  dat  he  speck  he  better  whirl  in  en  plant  a 
goober-patch,  en  in  dem  days,  mon,  hit  wuz  tech  en 
go.  De  wud  wern't  mo'n  out'n  his  mouf  'fo'  de  groun' 
*uz  brok'd  up  en  de  goobers  'uz  planted.  Ole  Bret 
Rabbit,  he  sot  off  en  watch  de  motions,  he  did,  en 
he  sorter  shet  one  eye  en  sing  to  his  chilluns: 

"Ti-yi!  Tungalee! 

I  eat  um  pea,  I  pick  urn  pea. 

Hit  grow  in  de  groun',  hit  grow  so  free; 

Ti-yi!  dem  goober  pea.' 

vSho'  'nuff  w'en  de  goobers  'gun  ter  ripen  up,  eve'y 
time  Brer  Fox  go  down  ter  his  patch,  he  fine  whar 
somebody  bin  grabblin'  'mongst  de  vines,  en  he  git 
mighty  mad.  He  sorter  speck  who  de  somebody  is, 
but  ole  Brer  Rabbit  he  cover  his  tracks  so  cute  dat 
Brer  Fox  dunner  how  ter  ketch  'im.  Bimeby,  one  day 
Brer  Fox  take  a  walk  all  roun'  de  groun'-pea  patch, 
en  'twan't  long  'fo'  he  fine  a  crack  in  de  fence  whar 
de  rail  done  bin  rub  right  smoove,  en  right  dar  he 
sot  'im  a  trap.  He  tuck'n  ben'  down  a  hick'ry  saplin', 


114      LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

growin*  in  de  fence-cornder,  en  tie  one  een'  tin  a 
plow-line  on  de  top,  en  in  de  udder  een'  he  fix  a 
loop-knot,  en  dat  he  fasten  wid  a  trigger  right  in  de 
crack.  Nex*  mawnin*  w'en  ole  Brer  Rabbit  come  slip- 
pin'  long  en  crope  thoo  de  crack,  de  loop-knot  kotch 


im  behime  de  f  olegs,  en  de  saplin*  flew'd  up,  en  dar 
he  wuz  'twix'  de  heavens  en  de  yeth.  Dar  he  swung, 
en  he  fear'd  he  gwineter  fall,  en  he  f ear'd  he  wer'n't 
gwineter  fall  Wile  he  wuz  a  fixin'  up  a  tale  fer  Brer 


MR.   RABBIT  AND  MR.   BEAR  115 

Fox,  he  hear  a  lumberin'  down  de  road,  en  present'y 
yer  cum  ole  Brer  B'ar  amblin*  'long  fum  whar  he  bin 
takin'  a  bee-tree.  Brer  Rabbit,  he  hail  'im: 

"'Howdy,  Brer  Bar!' 

"Brer  Ba'r,  he  look  'roun  en  bimeby  he  see  Brer 
Rabbit  swingin'  fnm  de  saplin',  en  he  holler  out: 

"'Heyo,  Brer  Rabbit!  How  you  come  on  dis 
mawnin'?' 

"'Much  oblije,  I'm  middlin',  Brer  B'ar,'  sez  Brer 
Rabbit,  sezee. 

"Den  Brer  B'ar,  he  ax  Brer  Rabbit  w'at  he  doin' 
up  dar  in  de  elements,  en  Brer  Rabbit,  he  up'n  say  he 
makin'  dollar  minnit.  Brer  B'ar,  he  say  how.  Brer 
Rabbit  say  he  keepin'  crows  out'n  Brer  Fox's  groun'- 
pea  patch,  en  den  he  ax  Brer  B'ar  ef  he  don't  wanter 
make  dollar  minnit,  kaze  he  got  big  fambly  er  chil- 
luns  fer  to  take  keer  un,  en  den  he  make  sech  nice 
skeercrow.  Brer  B'ar  low  dat  he  take  de  job,  en  den 
Brer  Rabbit  show  'im  how  ter  ben'  down  de  saplin',  en 
'twan't  long  'fo'  Brer  B'ar  wuz  swingin'  up  dar  in 
Brer  Rabbit  place.  Den  Brer  Rabbit,  he  put  out  fei 
Brer  Fox  house,  en  w'en  he  got  dar  he  sing  out: 

"  'Brer  Fox!  Oh,  Brer  Fox!  Come  out  yer,  Brer  Fox, 
en  I'll  show  you  de  man  w'at  bin  stealin'  yo'  goobers.' 

"Brer  Fox,  he  grab  up  his  walkin'-stick,  en  bofe 
un  um  went  runnin'  back  down  ter  der  goober-patch, 
en  w'en  dey  got  dar.,  sho  'nuff,  dar  wuz  ole  Brer  B'ar. 


116 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


"'Oh,  yes  I  youer  kotch,  is  you?'  sez  Brer  Fox,  en 
'fo'  Brer  B'ar  could  'splain,  Brer  Rabbit  he  jump  up 
en  down,  en  holler  out: 

"'Hit  'im  in  de  mouf,  Brer  Fox;  hit  'im  in  de 
mouf ;  en  Brer  Fox,  he  draw  back  wid  de  walkin'- 
cane,  en  blip  he  fuck  'im,  en  eve'y  time  Brer  B'ar'd 
try  ter  'splain,  Brer  Fox'd  shower  down  on  him. 


"Wiles  all  dis  *uz  gwine  on,  Brer  Rabbit,  he  slip 
off  en  git  in  a  mud-hole  en  des  lef  his  eyes  stickin' 
out,  kaze  he  know'd  dat  Brer  B'ar'd  be  a  comin'  atter 


'Hit  'im  in  de  mouf,  Brer  Fox!" 


MR.  BEAR  CATCHES  OLD  MR.  BULL-FROG    117 

*im.  Sho  'nuff,  bimeby  here  come  Brer  B'ar  down  de 
road,  en  w'en  he  git  ter  de  mud-hole,  he  say: 

"'Howdy,  Brer  Frog;  is  you  seed  Brer  Rabbit  go 
by  yer?' 

"'He  des  gone  by,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  en  ole  man 
B'ar  tuck  off  down  de  road  like  a  skeer'd  mule,  en 
Brer  Rabbit,  he  come  out  en  dry  hisse'f  in  de  sun,  en 
go  home  ter  his  fambly  same  ez  enny  udder  man." 

"The  Bear  didn't  catch  the  Rabbit,  then?"  inquired 
the  little  boy,  sleepily. 

"Jump  up  fum  dar,  honey!"  exclaimed  Uncle 
Remus,  by  way  of  reply.  "I  ain't  got  no  time  fer  ter 
be  settin'  yer  proppin'  yo'  eyeleds  open." 

XXIV 

MR.  BEAR  CATCHES  OLD  MR.  BULL-FROG 

<<WELL,  Uncle  Remus,"  said  the  little  boy,  count 
ing  to  see  if  he  hadn't  lost  a  marble  somewhere,  "the 
Bear  didn't  catch  the  Rabbit  after  all,  did  he?" 

"Now  you  talkin',  honey,"  replied  the  old  man,  his 
earnest  face  breaking  up  into  little  eddies  of  smiles 
—"now  you  talkin'  sho.  'Tain't  bin  proned  inter  no 
Brer  B'ar  fer  ter  kotch  Brer  Rabbit.  Hit  sorter  like 
settin*  a  mule  fer  ter  trap  a  hummin'-bird.  But  Brer 
B'ar,  he  tuck'n  got  hisse'f  inter  some  mo'  trubble, 
w'ich  it  look  like  it  mighty  easy.  Ef  folks  could  make 
der  livin'  longer  gittin'  inter  trubble,"  continued  the 


118 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


old  man,  looking  curiously  at  the  little  boy,  "ole  Miss 
Favers  wouldn't  be  bodder'n  yo'  ma  fer  ter  borry  a 
cup  full  er  sugar  eve'y  now  en  den;  en  it  look  like  ter 

me  dat  I  knows 


dat 
be 


a  nigger 
wouldn't 
squattin*  'roun' 
yer  makin*  dese 
yer  fish-baskits." 
"How  did  the 
Bear  get  into 
more  trouble, 
Uncle  Remus?" 
asked  the  little 
boy. 

"Natchul, 
honey.  Brer  B'ar, 
he  tuck  a  notion 
dat  ole  Brer 
Bull-frog  wuz  de 
man  w'at  fool 

'im,  en  he  say  dat  he'd  come  up  wid  'im  ef  'twuz  a 
year  atterwuds.  But  'twan't  no  year,  an  'twan't  no 
mont',  en  mo'n  dat,  hit  wan't  skasely  a  week,  w'en 
bimeby  one  day  Brer  B'ar  wuz  gwine  home  fum  de 
takin'  un  a  bee-tree,  en  lo  en  beholes,  who  should 
he  see  but  ole  Brer  Bull-frog  settin'  out  on  de  aidge 
^r  de  mud-muddle  fas'  'sleep!  Brer  B'ar  drap  his  axe, 


MR.  BEAR  CATCHES  OLD  MR.  BULL-FROG    119 

he  did,  en  crope  up,  en  retch  out  wid  his  paw,  en 
scoop  ole  Brer  Bull-frog  in  des  dis  away."  Here  the 
old  man  used  his  hand  ladle-fashion,  by  way  of  illus 
tration.  "He  scoop  'im  in,  en  dar  he  wuz.  Wen  Brer 
B'ar  got  his  clampers  on  'im  good,  he  sot  down  en 
talk  at  'im. 

"'Howdy,  Brer  Bull-frog,  howdy!  En  how  yo' 
fambly?  I  hope  deyer  well,  Brer  Bull-frog,  kaze  dis 
day  you  got  some  bizness  wid  me  w'atll  las'  you  a 
mighty  long  time/ 

"Brer  Bull-frog,  he  dunner  w'at  ter  say.  He  dunner 
wat's  up,  en  he  don't  say  nuthin'.  Ole  Brer  B'ar  he 
keep  runnin'  on: 

"Youer  de  man  w'at  tuck  en  fool  me  'bout  Brer 
Rabbit  t'er  day.  You  had  yo'  fun,  Brer  Bull-frog,  en 
now  111  git  mine.' 

"Den  Brer  Bull-frog,  he  gin  ter  git  skeerd,  he  did, 
en  he  up'n  say: 

"  Wat  I  bin  doin',  Brer  B'ar?  How  I  bin  foolin' 
you?' 

"Den  Brer  B'ar  laflF,  en  make  like  he  dunno,  but 
he  keep  on  talkin'. 

"'Oh,  no,  Brer  Bull-frog!  You  ain't  de  man  w'at 
stick  yo'  head  up  out'n  de  water  en  tell  me  Brer  Rab 
bit  done  gone  on  by.  Oh,  no!  you  ain't  de  man.  I 
boun'  you  ain't.  'Bout  dat  time,  you  wuz  at  home 
with  yo'  fambly,  whar  you  allers  is.  I  dunner  what 
you  wuz,  but  I  knows  whar  you  is,  Brer  Bull-frog,  en 


120      LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

hit's  you  en  me  fer  it.  Atter  de  sun  goes  down  dis 
day  you  don't  fool  no  mo'  folks  gwine  'long  dis  road/ 

"Co'se,  Brer  Bull-frog  dunner  w'at  Brer  B'ar  drivin' 
at,  but  he  know  sump'n  hatter  be  done,  en  dat  mighty 
soon,  kaze  Brer  B'ar  'gun  to  snap  his  jaws  tergedder 
en  foam  at  de  mouf,  en  Brer  Bull-frog  holler  out: 

"'Oh,  pray,  Brer  B'ar!  Lemme  off  dis  time,  en  I 
won't  never  do  so  no  mo'.  Oh,  pray,  Brer  B'ar!  do 
lemme  off  dis  time,  en  111  show  you  de  fattes'  bee- 
tree  in  de  woods.' 

"Ole  Brer  B'ar,  he  chomp  his  toofies  en  foam  at 
de  mouf.  Brer  Bull-frog  he  des  up'n  squall: 

"  'Oh,  pray,  Brer  B'ar!  I  won't  never  do  so  no  mo'! 
Oh,  pray,  Brer  B'ar!  Lemme  off  dis  time!' 

"But  ole  Brer  B'ar  say  he  gwineter  make  way  wid 
'im,  en  den  he  sot  en  study,  ole  Brer  B'ar  did,  how  he 
gwineter  squench  Brer  Bull-frog.  He  know  he  can't 
drown  'im,  en  he  ain't  got  no  fier  fer  ter  bu'n  'im,  en 
he  git  mighty  pestered.  Bimeby  ole  Brer  Bull-frog, 
he  sorter  stop  his  cryin'  en  his  boo-hooin',  en  he  up'n 
say: 

"  'Ef  you  gwineter  kill  me,  Brer  B'ar,  kyar  me  ter 
dat  big  flat  rock  out  dar  on  de  aidge  er  de  mill-ponr, 
whar  I  kin  see  my  fambly,  en  atter  I  see  urn,  den  you 
kin  take  you  axe  en  sqush  me.' 

"Dis  look  so  fa'r  and  squar'  dat  Brer  B'ar  he  'gree, 
en  he  take  ole  Brer  Bull-frog  by  wunner  his  behime 
legs,  en  sling  his  axe  on  his  shouder,  en  off  he  put  fer 


MR.  BEAR  CATCHES  OLD  MR.  BULL-FROG    121 

de  big  flat  rock.  When  he  git  dar  he  lay  Brer  Bull 
frog  down  on  de  rock,  en  Brer  Bull-frog  make  like  he 
lookin'  'roun'  fer  his  folks.  Den  Brer  B'ar,  he  draw 
long  breflf  en  pick  up  his  axe.  Den  he  spit  in  his 
han's  en  draw  back  en  come  down  on  de  rock— pow!" 

"Did  he  kill  the  Frog,  Uncle  Remus?"  asked  the 
little  boy,  as  the  old  man  paused  to  scoop  up  a 
thimbleful  of  glowing  embers  in  his  pipe. 

"'Deed,  en  dat  he  didn't,  honey.  Twix'  de  time 
w'en  Brer  B'ar  raise  up  wid  his  axe  en  w'en  he  come 


down  wid  it,  ole  Brer  Bull-frog  he  lipt  up  en  dove 
down  in  de  mill-pon',  kerblink-kerblunk!  En  w'en  he 
riz  way  out  in  de  pon'  he  riz  a  singin',  en  dish  yer's  de 
song  w'at  he  sing: 

:<  Ingle-go-jang,  my  joy,  my  joy- 

Ingle-go-jang,  my  joy! 
I'm  right  at  home,  my  joy,  my  joy— 
Ingle-go-jang,  my  joy!' " 


122      LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

'That's  a  mighty  funny  song,"  said  the  little  boy. 

"Funny  now,  I  speck,"  said  the  old  man,  "but 
*twern't  funny  in  dem  days,  en  'twouldn't  be  funny 
now  ef  folks  know'd  much  *bout  de  Bull-frog  lang- 
widge  ez  dey  useter.  Dat's  w'at." 

XXV 

HOW  MR.  RABBIT  LOST  HIS  FINE  BUSHY  TAIL 

"ONE  time,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  sighing  heavily 
and  settling  himself  back  in  his  seat  with  an  air  of 
melancholy  resignation— "one  time  Brer  Rabbit  wuz 
gwine  long  down  de  road  shakin'  his  big  bushy  tail, 
en  feelin'  des  ez  scrumpshus  ez  a  bee-martin  wid  a 
fresh  bug."  Here  the  old  man  paused  and  glanced  at 
the  little  boy,  but  it  was  evident  that  the  youngster 
had  become  so  accustomed  to  the  marvelous  develop 
ments  of  Uncle  Remus's  stories,  that  the  extraordi 
nary  statement  made  no  unusual  impression  upon 
him.  Therefore  the  old  man  began  again,  and  this 
time  in  a  louder  and  more  insinuating  tone: 

"One  time  ole  man  Rabbit,  he  wuz  gwine  long 
down  de  road  shakin*  his  long,  bushy  tail,  en  feelin* 
mighty  biggity." 

This  was  effective. 

"Great  goodness,  Uncle  Remus  I"  exclaimed  the 
little  boy  in  open-eyed  wonder,  "everybody  knows 
that  rabbits  haven't  got  long,  bushy  tails." 


HOW  MR.  RABBIT  LOST  HIS  FINE  BUSHY  TAIL     123 


The  old  man  shifted  his  position  in  his  chair  and 
allowed  his  venerable  head  to  drop  forward  until  his 
whole  appearance  was  suggestive  of  the  deepest  de 
jection;  and  this  was  intensified  by  a  groan  that 
seemed  to  be  the  result 
of  great  mental  agony. 
Finally  he  spoke,  but  not 
as  addressing  himself  to 
the  little  boy. 

"I  notices  dat  dem  f  okes 
w'at  makes  a  great  'mira 
tion  *bout  w'at  dey  knows 
is  des  de  fokes  w'ich  you 
can't  put  no  'pennunce  in 
w'en  de  'cashun  come 
up.  Yer  one  un  um  now, 
en  he  done  come  en  ex 
cuse  me  er  lowin  dat 
rabbits  is  got  long,  bushy 
tails,  w'ich  goodness 

knows  ef  I'd  a  dremp'  it,  I'd  a  whirl  in  en  on  dremp 
it." 

"Well,  but  Uncle  Remus,  you  said  rabbits  had 
long,  bushy  tails,"  replied  the  little  boy.  "Now  you 
know  you  did." 

"Ef  I  ain't  fergit  it  ofFn  my  mine,  I  say  dat  ole 
Brer  Rabbit  wuz  gwine  down  de  big  road  shakin' 
his  long,  bushy  tail.  Dat  w'at  I  say,  en  dat  I  stan's  by." 


124      LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


The  little  boy  looked  puzzled,  but  he  didn't  say 
anything.  After  a  while  the  old  man  continued: 

"Now,  den,  ef  dat's  'greed  ter,  I'm  gwine  on,  en 
ef  tain't  'greed  ter,  den  I'm  gwineter  pick  up  my  cane 


HOW  MB.   RABBIT  LOST  HIS  FINE  BUSHY  TAIL     125" 

en  look  atter  my  own  intrust.  I  got  wuk  lyin'  'roun* 
yer  dat's  des  natally  gittin'  moldy." 

The  little  boy  still  remained  quiet,  and  Uncle  Re 
mus  proceeded: 

"One  day  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  gwine  down  de  road 
shakin'  his  long,  bushy  tail,  w'en  who  should  he  strike 
up  wid  but  ole  Brer  Fox  gwine  amblin'  long  wid  a 
big  string  er  fish!  Wen  dey  pass  de  time  er  day  wid 
wunner  nudder,  Brer  Rabbit,  he  open  up  de  con 
fab,  he  did,  en  he  ax  Brer  Fox  whar  he  git  dat  nice 
string  er  fish,  en  Brer  Fox,  he  up'n  'spon'  dat  he 
katch  um,  en  Brer  Rabbit,  he  say  whar*bouts,  en  Brer 
Fox,  he  say  down  at  de  babtizin'  creek,  en  Brer  Rab 
bit  he  ax  how,  kaze  in  dem  days  dey  wuz  monstus 
fon'  er  minners,  en  Brer  Fox,  he  sot  down  on  a  log, 
he  did,  en  he  up'n  tell  Brer  Rabbit  dat  all  he  gotter 
do  fer  ter  git  er  big  mess  er  minners  is  ter  go  ter 
de  creek  atter  sun  down,  en  drap  his  tail  in  de  water 
en  set  dar  twel  day-light,  en  den  draw  up  a  whole 
armful  er  fishes,  en  dem  w'at  he  don't  want,  he  kin 
fling  back.  Right  dar's  whar  Brer  Rabbit  drap  his 
watermillion,  kaze  he  tuck'n  sot  out  dat  night  en 
went  a  fishin'.  De  wedder  wuz  sorter  cole,  en  Brer 
Rabbit,  he  got  'im  a  bottle  er  dram  en  put  out  fer 
de  creek,  en  w'en  he  git  dar  he  pick  out  a  good  place, 
en  he  sorter  squot  down,  he  did,  en  let  his  tail  hang 
in  de  water.  He  sot  dar,  en  he  sot  dar,  en  he  drunk 
his  dram,  en  he  think  he  gwineter  freeze,  but  bimeby 


126      LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

day  come,  en  dar  he  wuz.  He  make  a  pull,  en  he  feel 
like  he  comin'  in  two,  en  he  fetch  nudder  jerk,  en  lo 
en  beholes,  whar  wuz  his  tail?" 

There  was  a  long  pause. 

"Did  it  come  off,  Uncle  Remus?"  asked  the  little 
boy,  presently. 

"She  did  dat!"  replied  the  old  man  with  unction. 
"She  did  dat,  and  dat  w'at  make  all  deze  yer  bob-tail 
rabbits  w'at  you  see  hoppin'  en  skaddlin'  thoo  de 
woods." 

"Are  they  all  that  way  just  because  the  old  Rabbit 
lost  his  tail  in  the  creek?"  asked  the  little  boy. 

"Dat's  it,  honey,"  replied  the  old  man.  "Dat's  w'at 
dey  tells  me.  Look  like  dey  er  bleedzd  ter  take  attei 
der  pa." 


XXVI 

MR.  TERRAPIN  SHOWS  HIS  STRENGTH 

"BRER  TARRYPIN  wuz  de  out'nes'  man,"  said  Uncle 
Remus,  rubbing  his  hands  together  contemplatively, 
and  chuckling  to  himself  in  a  very  significant  manner; 
"he  wuz  de  out'nes'  man  er  de  whole  gang.  He  wuz 
dat." 

The  little  boy  sat  perfectly  quiet,  betraying  no  im 
patience  when  Uncle  Remus  paused  to  hunt,  first  in 
one  pocket  and  then  in  another,  for  enough  crumbs 


MR.   TERRAPIN  SHOWS  HIS  STRENGTH 


127 


of  tobacco  to  replenish  his  pipe.  Presently  the  old 
man  proceeded: 

"One  night  Miss  Meadows  en  de  gals  dey  gun  a 
candy-pullin',  en  so  many  er  de  nabers  come  in 
'sponse  ter  de  invite  dat  dey  hatter  put  de  lasses  in 
de  wash  pot  en  b'iT  de  fier  in  de  yard.  Brer  B'ar, 
he  hope  *  Miss  Meadows  bring  de  wood,  Brer  Fox, 


he  men'  de  fier,  Brer  Wolf,  he  kep'  de  dogs  off,  Brer 
Rabbit,  he  grease  de  bottom  er  de  plates  fer  ter  keep 

*  Holp;  helped. 


128      LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

de  candy  fum  stickin',  en  Brer  Tarrypin,  he  klum  up 
in  a  cheer,  en  say  he'd  watch  en  see  dat  de  lasses 
didn't  bile  over.  Dey  wuz  all  dere,  en  dey  wern't 
cuttin'  up  no  didos,  nudder,  kaze  Miss  Meadows,  she 
done  put  her  foot  down,  she  did,  en  say  dat  w'en 
dey  come  ter  her  place  dey  hatter  hang  up  a  flag 
er  truce  at  de  front  gate  en  T)ide  by  it. 

"Well,  den,  w'iles  dey  wuz  all  a  settin*  dar  en  de 
lasses  wuz  a  bilin'  en  a  blubberin',  dey  got  ter  runnin' 
on  talkin'  mighty  biggity.  Brer  Rabbit,  he  say  he  de 
swiffes';  but  Brer  Tarrypin,  he  rock  'long  in  de  cheer 
en  watch  de  lasses.  Brer  Fox,  he  say  he  de  sharpes', 
but  Brer  Tarrypin  he  rock  long.  Brer  Wolf,  he  say 
he  de  mos'  suwigus,  but  Brer  Tarrypin,  he  rock  en  he 
rock  long.  Brer  B'ar,  he  say  he  de  mos'  stronges',  but 
Brer  Tarrypin  he  rock,  en  he  keep  on  rockin'.  Bimeby 
he  sorter  shet  one  eye,  en  say,  sezee: 

"  'Hit  look  like  'periently  dat  de  ole  hardshell  ain't 
nowhars  longside  er  dis  crowd,  yit  yer  I  is,  en  I'm  de 
same  man  w'at  show  Brer  Rabbit  dat  he  ain't  de 
swiffes';  en  I'm  de  same  man  w'at  kin  show  Brer  B'ar 
dat  he  ain't  de  stronges','  sezee. 

"Den  dey  all  laff  en  holler,  kaze  it  look  like  Brer 
B'ar  mo'  stronger  dan  a  steer.  Bimeby,  Miss  Mead 
ows,  she  up'n  ax,  she  did,  how  he  gwine  do  it. 

"'Gimme  a  good  strong  rope,'  sez  Brer  Tarrypin, 
sezee,  'en  lemme  git  in  er  puddle  er  water,  en  den 
let  Brer  B'ar  see  ef  he  kin  pull  me  out,'  sezee. 


MR.   TERRAPIN   SHOWS   HIS   STRENGTH  129 

"Den  dey  all  laff  g'in,  en  Brer  B'ar,  he  ups  en  sez, 
sezee:  *We  ain't  got  no  rope,'  sezee. 

"  'No,'  sez  Brer  Tarrypin,  sezee,  'en  needer  is  you 
got  de  strenk,'  sezee,  en  den  Brer  Tarrypin,  he  rock 
en  rock  long,  en  watch  de  lasses  a  bilin'  en  a 
blubberin'. 

"Atter  w'ile  Miss  Meadows,  she  up  en  say,  she  did, 
dat  she'd  take'n  loan  de  young  men  her  bed-cord,  en 
w'iles  de  candy  wuz  a  coolin'  in  de  plates,  dey  could 
all  go  ter  de  branch  en  see  Brer  Tarrypin  kyar  out  his 
projick.  Brer  Tarrypin,"  continued  Uncle  Remus,  in 
a  tone  at  once  confidential  and  argumentative, 
"wern't  much  bigger'n  de  pa'm  er  my  ban',  en  it  look 
mighty  funny  fer  ter  year  'im  braggin'  *bout  how  he 
kin  out-pull  Brer  B'ar.  But  dey  got  de  bed-cord  atter 
w'ile,  en  den  dey  all  put  out  ter  de  branch.  Wen 
Brer  Tarrypin  fine  de  place  he  wanter,  he  tuck  one 
een'  er  de  bed-cord,  en  gun  de  yuther  een'  to  Brer 
B'ar. 

"'Now  den,  ladies  en  gents/  sez  Brer  Tarrypin, 
sezee,  'you  all  go  wid  Brer  B'ar  up  dar  in  de  woods 
en  111  stay  yer,  en  w'en  you  year  me  holler,  den's  de 
time  fer  Brer  B'ar  fer  ter  see  ef  he  kin  haul  in  de 
slack  er  de  rope.  You  all  take  keer  er  dat  ar  een'/ 
sezee,  'en  111  take  keer  er  dish  yer  een*,"  sezee. 

"Den  dey  all  put  out  en  lef  Brer  Tarrypin  at  de 
branch,  en  w'en  dey  got  good  en  gone,  he  dove 
down  inter  de  water,  he  did,  en  tie  de  bed-cord  harcl 


130 


LEGENDS  OF  TEE  OLD  PLANTATION 


en  fas'  ter  wunner  deze  yer  big  clay-roots,  en  den  he 
riz  up  en  gin  a  whoop. 

"Brer  B'ar  he  wrop  de  bed-cord  roun'  his  han,'  en 


Wink  at  de  gals,  en  wid  dat  he  gin  a  big  juk,  but  Brer 
Tarrypin  ain't  budge.  Den  he  take  bof  han's  en  gin 
a  big  pull,  but,  all  de  same,  Brer  Tarrypin  ain't  budge. 
Den  he  tu'n  'roun',  he  did,  en  put  de  rope  cross  his 
shoulders  en  try  ter  walk  off  wid  Brer  Tarrypin,  but 
Brer  Tarrypin  look  like  he  don't  feel  like  walkin'. 
Den  Brer  Wolf  he  put  in  en  hope  Brer  B'ar  pull,  but 
des  like  he  didn't,  en  den  dey  all  hope  'im,  en,  bless 
grashus!  w'iles  dey  wuz  all  a  pullin',  Brer  Tarrypin, 
he  holler,  en  ax  um  w'y  dey  don't  take  up  de  slack. 


"He  try  ter  walk  off  wid  Brer  Tarrypin." 


WHY  MR.   POSSUM  HAS   NO  HAIR   ON  HIS  TAIL       131 

Den  w'en  Brer  Tarrypin  feel  um  quit  pullin',  he  dove 
down,  he  did,  en  ontie  de  rope,  en  by  de  time  dey  got 
ter  de  branch,  Brer  Tarrypin,  he  wuz  settui  in  de 
aidge  er  de  water  des  ez  natchul  ez  de  nex'  un,  en  he 
up'n  say,  sezee: 

"  'Dat  las'  pull  er  yone  wuz  a  mighty  stiff  un,  en  a 
leetle  mo'n  you'd  er  had  me,'  sezee.  'Youer  monstus 
stout,  Brer  B'ar,'  sezee,  'en  you  pulls  like  a  yoke  er 
steers,  but  I  sorter  had  de  purchis  on  you,'  sezee. 

"Den  Brer  B'ar,  bein's  his  mouf  'gun  ter  water 
atter  de  sweetnin,'  he  up'n  say  he  speck  de  candy's 
ripe,  en  off  dey  put  atter  it!" 

"It's  a  wonder,"  said  the  little  boy,  after  a  while, 
"that  the  rope  didn't  break." 

"Break  who?"  exclaimed  Uncle  Remus,  with  a 
touch  of  indignation  in  his  tone— "break  who?  In  dem 
days,  Miss  Meadows's  bed-cord  would  a  hilt  a  mule." 

This  put  an  end  to  whatever  doubts  the  child  might 
have  entertained. 


xxvn 
WHY  MR.  POSSUM  HAS  NO  HAIR  ON  HIS  TAIL 

"HiT  look  like  ter  me,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  frown 
ing,  as  the  little  boy  came  hopping  and  skipping  into 
the  old  man's  cabin,  "dat  I  see  a  young  un  'bout  yo' 
size  playin'  en  makin'  free  wid  dem  ar  chilluns  er  ole 
Miss  Favers's  yistiddy,  en  w'en  I  seed  dat,  I  drap  my 


132  LEGENDS   OF  THE   OLD  PLANTATION 

axe,  en  I  come  in  yer  en  sot  flat  down  right  what 
youer  settin'  now,  en  I  say  ter  myse'f  dat  it's  t>out 
time  fer  ole  Remus  fer  ter  hang  up  en  quit.  Dat's 
des  zackly  w'at  I  say." 

"Well,  Uncle  Remus,  they  called  me,"  said  the  little 
boy,  in  a  penitent  tone.  "They  come  and  called  me, 
and  said  they  had  a  pistol  and  some  powder  over 
there." 

"Dar  now!"  exclaimed  the  old  man,  indignantly. 
"Dar  nowl  w'at  I  bin  sayin'?  Hit's  des  a  born  bless- 
in'  dat  you  wa'n't  brung  home  on  a  litter  wid  bofe 
eyeballs  hangin'  out  en  one  year  clean  gone;  dat's 
w'at  'tis.  Hit's  des  a  born  blessin'.  Hit  hope  me  up 
mightly  de  udder  day  w'en  I  hear  Miss  Sally  layin' 
down  de  law  'bout  you  en  dem  Favers  chillun,  yit,  lo 
en  beholes,  de  fus  news  I  knows  yer  you  is  han'-in- 
glove  wid  um.  Hit's  nuff  fer  ter  fetch  ole  Miss  right 
up  out'n  dat  berryin'-groun'  fum  down  dar  in  Putmon 
County,  en  w'at  yo'  gram'ma  wouldn't  er  stood  me  en 
yo*  ma  ain't  gwineter  stan'  nudder,  en  de  nex  time  I 
hear  'bout  sech  a  come  off  ez  dis,  right  den  en  dar 
I'm  boun'  ter  lay  de  case  'fo'  Miss  Sally.  Dem  Favers's 
wa'n't  no  'count  'fo'  de  war,  en  dey  wa'n't  no  'count 
endurin'  er  de  war,  en  dey  ain't  no  'count  atterwards, 
en  w'iles  my  head's  hot  you  ain't  gwineter  go  mixin' 
up  yo'se'f  wid  de  riff-raff  er  creashun." 

The  little  boy  made  no  further  attempt  to  justify 
his  conduct.  He  was  a  very  wise  little  boy,  and  he 


WHY  MR.   POSSUM  HAS  NO  HAIR  ON  HIS  TAIL      133 

knew  that,  in  Uncle  Remus's  eyes,  he  had  been  guilty 
of  a  flagrant  violation  of  the  family  code.  Therefore, 
instead  of  attempting  to  justify  himself,  he  pleadod 
guilty,  and  promised  that  he  would  never  do  so  any 
more.  After  this  there  was  a  long  period  of  silence, 
broken  only  by  the  vigorous  style  in  which  Uncle 
Remus  puffed  away  at  his  pipe.  This  was  the  in 
variable  result.  Whenever  the  old  man  had  occasion 
to  reprimand  the  little  boy— and  the  occasions  were 
frequent—he  would  relapse  into  a  dignified  but  stub 
born  silence.  Presently  the  youngster  drew  forth  from 
his  pocket  a  long  piece  of  candle.  The  sharp  eyes  of 
the  old  man  saw  it  at  once. 

"Don't  you  come  a  tellin'  me  dat  Miss  Sally  gun 
you  dat,"  he  exclaimed,  "kaze  she  didn't.  En  I  lay 
you  hatter  be  monstus  sly  'fo'  you  gotter  chance  fer 
ter  snatch  up  dat  piece  er  cannle." 

'Well,  Uncle  Remus,"  the  little  boy  explained,  "it 
was  lying  there  all  by  itself,  and  I  just  thought  I'd 
fetch  it  out  to  you." 

"Dat's  so,  honey,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  greatly  mol 
lified;  "dat's  so,  kaze  by  now  some  er  dem  yuther 
niggers  'ud  er  done  had  her  lit  up.  Dey  er  mighty 
biggity,  dem  house  niggers  is,  but  I  notices  dat  dey 
don't  let  nuthin'  pass.  Dey  goes  'long  wid  der  han's 
en  der  mouf  open,  en  w'at  one  don't  ketch  de  tother 
one  do.* 


134 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


There  was  another  pause,  and  finally  the  little  boy 
said: 

"Uncle  Remus,  you  know  you  promised  to-day  to 
tell  me  why  the  'Possum  has  no  hair  on  his  tail." 

"Law,  honey!  ain't  you  done  gone  en  fergot  dat 
offn  yo'  mine  yit?  Hit  look  like  ter  me,"  continued 
the  old  man,  leisurely  refilling  his  pipe,  "dat  she  sorter 
run.  like  dis:  One  time  ole  Brer  Possum,  he  git  so 
hungry,  he  did,  dat  he  bleedzd  fer  ter  have  a  mess  er 
'simmons.  He  monstus  lazy  man,  old  Brer  Possum 


wuz,  but  bimeby  his  stummick  'gun  ter  growl  en 
holler  at  'im  so  dat  he  des  hatter  rack  'roun'  en  hunt 
up  sump'n;  en  w'iles  he  wuz  rackin'  'roun',  who  sh'd 


WHY  MR.   POSSUM  HAS  NO  HAIR  ON  HIS  TAIL       135 

he  run  up  wid  but  Brer  Rabbit,  en  dey  wuz  hail- 
fellers,  kaze  Brer  Possum,  he  ain't  bin  bodder'n  Brer 
Rabbit  like  dem  yuther  creeturs.  Dey  sot  down  by  de 
side  er  de  big  road,  en  dar  dey  jabber  en  confab 
'mong  wunner  nudder,  twel  bimeby  old  Brer  Possum, 
he  take  'n  tell  Brer  Rabbit  dat  he  mos'  pe'sh  out,  en 
Brer  Rabbit,  he  lip  up  in  de  a'r,  he  did,  en  smack  his 
han's  tergedder,  en  say  dat  he  know  right  whar  Brer 
Possum  kin  git  a  bait  er  'simmons.  Den  Brer  Possum, 
he  say  whar,  en  Brer  Rabbit,  he  say  w'ich  'twuz  over 
at  Brer  B'ar's  'simmon  orchard." 

"Did  the  Bear  have  a  'simmon  orchard,  Uncle 
Remus?"  the  little  boy  asked. 

"Co'se,  honey,  kaze  in  dem  days  Brer  B'ar  wuz  a 
bee-hunter.  He  make  his  livin'  findin'  bee  trees,  en  de 
way  he  fine  um  he  plant  'im  some  'simmon-trees,  w'ich 
de  bees  dey'd  come  ter  suck  de  'simmons  en  den  ola 
Brer  B'ar  he'd  watch  um  whar  dey'd  go,  en  den  he'd 
be  mighty  ap'  fer  ter  come  up  wid  um.  No  matter 
lout  dat,  de  'simmon  patch  'uz  dar  des  like  I  tell  you, 
en  ole  Brer  Possum  mouf  'gun  ter  water  soon's  he 
year  talk  un  um,  en  mos'  'fo'  Brer  Rabbit  done  tellin' 
'im  de  news,  Brer  Possum,  he  put  out,  he  did,  en 
'twa'n't  long  'fo'  he  wuz  perch  up  in  de  highes*  tree 
in  Brer  B'ar  'simmon  patch.  But  Brer  Rabbit,  he 
done  'termin'  fer  ter  see  some  fun,  en  w'iles  all  dis  'uz 
gwine  on,  he  run  'roun'  ter  Brer  B'ar  house,  en  holler 
en  tell  'im  w'ich  dey  wuz  somebody  'stroyin*  un  his 


136 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


'simmons,  en  Brer  B'ar,  he  hustle  off  fer  ter  ketch  'im. 
"Eve'y  now  en  den  Brer  Possum  think  he  year  Brer 
B'ar  comin',  but  he  keep  on  sayin',  sezee: 


"  Til  des  git  one  'simmon  mo'  en  den  111  go;  one 
'simmon  mo*  en  den  111  go/ 

"Las'  he  year  Brer  B'ar  comin'  sho  miff,  but  'twuz 


THE  END  OF  MR.   BEAR  137 

de  same  ole  chune— 'One  'simmon  mo'  en  den  111  go* 
—en  des  'bout  dat  time  Brer  B'ar  busted  inter  de 
patch,  en  gin  de  tree  a  shake,  en  Brer  Possum,  he 
drapt  out  longer  de  yuther  ripe  'simmons,  but  time  he 
totch  de  groun'  he  got  his  foots  tergedder,  en  he  lit 
out  fer  de  fence  same  ez  a  race-hoss,  en  'cross  dat 
patch  him  en  Brer  B'ar  had  it,  en  Brer  B'ar  gain'  eve'y 
jump,  twel  time  Brer  Possum  make  de  fence  Brer  B'ar 
grab  'im  by  de  tail,  en  Brer  Possum,  he  went  out 
'tween  de  rails  en  gin  a  powerful  juk  en  pull  his  tail 
out  'twix  Brer  B'ar  tushes;  en,  lo  en  beholes,  Brer 
B'ar  hole  so  tight  en  Brer  Possum  pull  so  hard  dat  all 
de  ha'r  come  off  in  Brer  B'ar's  motif,  w'ich,  ef  Brer 
Rabbit  hadn't  er  happen  up  wid  a  go'd  er  water, 
Brer  B'ar  'der  got  strankle. 

"Fum  dat  day  ter  dis,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  knocking 
the  ashes  carefully  out  of  his  pipe,  "Brer  Possum  ain't 
had  no  ha'r  on  his  tail,  en  needer  do  his  chilluns." 

xxvm 
THE  END  OF  MR.  BEAR 

THE  next  time  the  little  boy  sought  Uncle  Remus 
out,  he  found  the  old  man  unusually  cheerful  and 
good-humoured.  His  rheumatism  had  ceased  to 
trouble  him,  and  he  was  even  disposed  to  be 
boisterous.  He  was  singing  when  the  little  boy  got 
near  the  cabin,  and  the  child  paused  on  the  outside  to 


138      LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

listen  to  the  vigorous  but  mellow  voice  of  the  old 
man,  as  it  rose  and  fell  with  the  burden  of  the  curi 
ously  plaintive  song— a  senseless  affair  so  far  as  the 
Words  were  concerned,  but  sung  to  a  melody  almost 
thrilling  in  its  sweetness: 

"Han*  me  down  my  walkin'-cane 

(Hey  my  Lily!  go  down  de  road!), 
Yo'  true  lover  gone  down  de  lane 
(Hey  my  Lily!  go  down  de  road! )." 

The  quick  ear  of  Uncle  Remus,  however,  had  de 
tected  the  presence  of  the  little  boy,  and  he  allowed 
his  song  to  run  into  a  recitation  of  nonsense,  of  which 
the  following,  if  it  be  rapidly  spoken,  will  give  a  faint 
idea: 

"Ole  M'er  Jackson,  fines'  contraction,  fell  down 
sta'rs  fer  to  git  satisfaction;  big  Bill  Fray,  he  rule 
de  day,  everything  he  call  fer  come  one,  two  by  three. 
Gwine  long  one  day,  met  Johnny  Huby,  ax  him 
grine  nine  yards  er  steel  fer  me,  tole  me  w'ich  he 
couldn't:  den  I  hist  'im  over  Hickerson  Dickerson's 
barn-doors;  knock  'im  ninety-nine  miles  under  water, 
w'en  he  rise,  he  rise  in  Pike  straddle  un  a  hanspike, 
en  I  lef  'im  dar  smokin'  er  de  hornpipe,  Juba  reda 
seda  breda.  Aunt  Kate  at  de  gate;  I  want  to  eat,  she 
fry  de  meat  en  gimme  skin,  w'ich  I  fling  it  back  agin. 
Juba!" 

All  this,  rattled  off  at  a  rapid  rate  and  with  appar- 


THE  END  OF  MR.   BEAR  139 

ent  seriousness,  was  calculated  to  puzzle  the  little  boy, 
and  he  slipped  into  his  accustomed  seat  with  an  ex 
pression  of  awed  bewilderment  upon  his  face. 

"Hit's  all  des  dat  away,  honey,"  continued  the  old 
man,  with  the  air  of  one  who  had  just  given  an  im 
portant  piece  of  information.  "En  w'en  you  bin  cas'n 
shadders  long  ez  de  ole  nigger,  den  youll  fine  out 
who's  w'ich,  en  w'ich's  who." 

The  little  boy  made  no  response.  He  was  in  thor 
ough  sympathy  with  all  the  whims  and  humors  of  the 
old  man,  and  his  capacity  for  enjoying  them  was  large 
enough  to  include  even  those  he  could  not  under 
stand.  Uncle  Remus  was  finishing  an  axe-handle,  and 
upon  these  occasions  it  was  his  custom  to  allow  the 
child  to  hold  one  end  while  he  applied  sand-paper  to 
the  other.  These  relations  were  pretty  soon  estab 
lished,  to  the  mutual  satisfaction  of  the  parties  most 
interested,  and  the  old  man  continued  his  remarks, 
but  this  time  not  at  random: 

"W'en  I  see  deze  yer  swell-head  folks  like  dat 
'oman  w'at  come  en  tell  yo'  ma  T3out  you  chunkin' 
at  her  chilluns,  w'ich  yo  ma  make  Mars  John  strop 
you,  hit  make  my  mine  run  back  to  ole  Brer  B'ar.  Ole 
Brer  B'ar,  he  got  de  swell-headedness  hisse'f,  en  ef 
der  wuz  enny  swinkin',  hit  swunk  too  late  f er  ter  he'p 
ole  Brer  B'ar.  Leas'ways  dat's  w'at  dey  tells  me,  en  I 
ain't  never  yearn  it  'sputed." 


140  LEGENDS   OF  TOE  OLD  PLANTATION 

"Was  the  Bear's  head  sure  enough  swelled,  Uncle 
Remus?" 

"Now  you  talkin',  honey  I"  exclaimed  the  old  man. 

"Goodness!  what  made  it  swell?" 

This  was  Uncle  Remus's  cue.  Applying  the  sand 
paper  to  the  axe-helve  with  gentle  vigor,  he  began: 

"One  time  when  Brer  Rabbit  wuz  gwine  lopin* 
home  fum  a  frolic  w'at  dey  bin  havin'  up  at  Miss 
Meadows's,  who  should  he  happin  up  wid  but  ole 
Brer  B'ar.  Co'se,  atter  w'at  done  pass  'twix  um  dey 
wa'n't  no  good  f  eelin's  'tween  Brer  Rabbit  en  ole  Brer 
B'ar,  but  Brer  Rabbit,  he  wanter  save  his  manners, 
en  so  he  holler  out: 

"Heyo,  Brer  B'ar!  how  you  come  on?  I  ain't  seed 
you  in  a  coon's  age.  How  all  down  at  yo'  house?  How 
Miss  Brune  en  Miss  Brindle?" 

"Who  was  that,  Uncle  Remus?"  the  little  boy  in 
terrupted. 

"Miss  Brune  en  Miss  Brindle?  Miss  Brune  wuz 
Brer  B'ar's  ole  'oman,  en  Miss  Brindle  wuz  his  gal. 
Dat  w'at  dey  call  um  in  dem  days.  So  den  Brer  Rab 
bit,  he  ax  him  howdy,  he  did,  en  Brer  B'ar,  he 
'spon'  dat  he  wuz  mighty  poly,  en  dey  amble  long, 
dey  did,  sorter  familious  like,  but  Brer  Rabbit,  he 
keep  one  eye  on  Brer  B'ar,  en  Brer  B'ar,  he  study  how 
he  gwine  nab  Brer  Rabbit.  Las'  Brer  Rabbit,  he  up'n 
say, sezee: 


THE  END  OF  MR.   BEAR 


141 


"  'Brer  B'ar,  I  speck  I  got  some  bizness  cut  out  f er 
you,'  sezee. 
"  What  dat,  Brer  Rabbit?'  sez  Brer  B'ar,  sezee. 


''  Wiles  I  wuz  cleanin*  up  my  new-groun'  day  *fo* 
yistiddy,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee,  'I  come  'cross  wun- 
ner  deze  yer  ole  time  bee-trees.  Hit  start  holler  at  de 
bottom,  en  stay  holler  plum  der  de  top,  en  de  honey's 
des  natally  oozin'  out,  en  ef  youll  drap  yo'  'gagements 
en  go  longer  me,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee,  'you'll  git 
a  bait  dat'll  las'  you  en  yo'  fambly  twel  de  middle  er 
nex'  mont','  sezee. 

"Brer  B'ar  say  he  much  oblije  en  he  bleeve  hell  go 
long,  en  wid  dat  dey  put  out  fer  Brer  Rabbit's  new- 


142 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


groun',  w'ich  twa'n't  so  mighty  fur.  Leas'ways,  dey 
got  dar  atter  w'ile.  Ole  Brer  B'ar,  he  low  dat  he  kin 
smell  de  honey.  Brer  Rabbit,  he  low  dat  he  kin  see 
de  honey-koam.  Brer  B'ar,  he  low 
dat  he  can  hear  de  bees  a  zoonin'. 
Dey  stan'  'roun'  en  talk  biggity, 
dey  did,  twel  bimeby  Brer  Rabbit,  * 
he  up'n  say,  sezee: 

"  'You  do  de  clim-'in',  Brer  B  ar, 
en  111  do  de  rushin'  'roun';  you 
clime  up  ter  de  hole,  en  111  take 
dis  yer  pine  pole  en  shove  de 
honey  up  whar  you  kin  git  'er,' 
sezee. 

"Ole  Brer  B'ar,  he  spit  on  his 
han's  en  skint  up  de  tree,  en  jam 
his  head  in  de  hole,  en  sho  nuff, 
Brer  Rabbit,  he  grab  de  pine  pole, 
en  de  way  he  stir  up  dem  bees 
wuz  sinful— dat's  w'at  it  wuz.  Hit 
wuz  sinful.  En  de  bees  dey 
swawm'd  on  Brer  B'ar's  head,  twel 
'fo'  he  could  take  it  out'n  de  hole 


MR.    FOX  GETS   INTO   SERIOUS   BUSINESS  143 

hit  wuz  done  swell  up  bigger  dan  dat  dinner-pot,  en 
dar  he  swung,  en  ole  Brer  Rabbit,  he  dance  roun* 
en  sing: 

*  Tree  stan*  high,  but  honey  mighty  sweet- 
Watch  dem  bees  wid  stingers  on  der  feet/ 

"But  dar  ole  Brer  B'ar  hung,  en  ef  his  head  ain't 
swunk,  I  speck  he  hangin'  dar  yit— dat  w'at  I  speck." 


XXIX 
MR.  FOX  GETS  INTO  SERIOUS  BUSINESS 

"HiT  turn  out  one  time,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  grind 
ing  some  crumbs  of  tobacco  between  the  palms  of  his 
hands,  preparatory  to  enjoying  his  usual  smoke  after 
supper— "hit  turn  out  one  time  dat  Brer  Rabbit  make 
so  free  wid  de  man's  collard-patch  dat  de  man  he 
tuck'n  sot  a  trap  fer  ole  Brer  Rabbit." 

"Which  man  was  that,  Uncle  Remus?"  asked  the 
little  boy. 

"Des  a  man,  honey.  Dat's  all.  Dat's  all  I  knows 
— des  wunner  dese  yer  mans  w'at  you  see  trollopin 
'roun'  eve'y  day.  Nobody  ain't  never  year  w'at  his 
name  is,  en  ef  dey  did  dey  kep'  de  news  mighty  close 
fum  me.  Ef  dish  yer  man  is  bleedzd  fer  ter  have  a 
name,  den  I'm  done,  kaze  youll  hatter  go  fudder  dan 
me.  Ef  you  bleedzd  ter  know  mo*  dan  w'at  I  duz, 
den  you'll  hatter  hunt  up  some  er  deze  yer  niggers 


144      LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

w'at's  sprung  up  sence  I  commence  fer  ter  shed  my 
ha'r." 

"Well,  I  just  thought,  Uncle  Remus,"  said  the  little 
boy,  in  a  tone  remarkable  for  self-depreciation,  "that 
the  man  had  a  name." 

"Tooby  sho,"  replied  the  old  man,  with  unction^ 
puffing  away  at  his  pipe.  "Co'se.  Dat  w'at  make  I 
say  w'at  I  duz.  Dish  yer  man  mout  a  had  a  name, 
en  den  ag'in  he  moutn't.  He  mout  er  bin  name  Slip- 
shot  Sam,  en  he  mouter  bin  name  ole  One-eye  Riley, 
w'ich  ef  'twuz  hit  ain't  bin  handed  roun'  ter  me.  But 
dish  yer  man,  he  in  de  tale,  en  w'at  we  gwine  do  wid 
'im?  Dats  de  p'int,  kase  w'en  I  git  ter  huntin'  'roun5 
'mong  my  'membunce  atter  dish  yer  Mister  W'atyou^ 
maycollum's  name,  she  ain't  dar.  Now  den,  less-des 
call  'im  Mr.  Man  en  let  'im  go  at  dat." 

The  silence  of  the  little  boy  gave  consent. 

"One  time,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  carefully  taking  up 
the  thread  of  the  story  where  it  had  been  dropped, 
"hit  turn  out  dat  Brer  Rabbit  bin  makin'  so  free  wid 
Mr.  Man's  greens  en  truck  dat  Mr.  Man,  he  tuck'n  sot 
a  trap  for  Brer  Rabbit,  en  Brer  Rabbit  he  so  greedy 
dat  he  tuck'n  walk  right  spang  in  it,  'fo'  he  kno\* 
hisse'f.  Well,  'twaVt  long  'fo'  yer  come  Mr.  Man; 
broozin*  'roun',  en  he  ain't  no  sooner  see  ole  Bret 
Rabbit  dan  he  smack  his  han's  tergedder  en  hollei 
out; 

"Youer  nice  feller,  you  is!  Yer  you  bin  gobblin 


MR.   FOX  GETS  INTO   SERIOUS  BUSINESS          145 

up  my  green  truck,  en  now  you  tryin'  ter  tote  off  my 
trap.  Youer  mighty  nice  chap— dat's  w'at  you  isl  But 
now  dat  I  got  you,  111  des  'bout  settle  wid  you  fer  de 
ole  en  de  new/ 

"En  wid  dat,  Mr.  Man,  he  go  off,  he  did,  down  in 
de  bushes  atter  han'ful  er  switches.  Ole  Brer  Rabbit, 
he  ain't  sayin'  nuthin',  but  he  f eelin'  mighty  lonesome, 
en  he  sot  dar  lookin'  like  eve'y  minnit  wuz  gwineter 
be  de  nex'.  En  w'iles  Mr.  Man  wuz  off  prepaVn  his 
bresh-broom,  who  should  come  p'radin'  long  but 
Brer  Fox.  Brer  Fox  make  a  great  'miration,  he  did, 
l)out  de  fix  w'at  he  fine  Brer  Rabbit  in,  but  Brer  Rab 
bit  he  make  like  he  fit  ter  kill  hisse'f  laffin',  en  he  up'n 
tell  Brer  Fox,  he  did,  dat  Miss  Meadows's  fokes  want 
'im  ter  go  down  ter  der  house  in  'tennunce  on  a 
weddin',  en  he  low  w'ich  he  couldn't,  en  dey  low 
how  he  could,  en  den  bimeby  dey  take'n  tie  'im  dar 
w'iles  dey  go  atter  de  preacher,  so  he  be  dar'  w'en 
dey  come  back.  En  mc'n  dat,  Brer  Rabbit  up'n  tell 
Brer  Fox  dat  his  chillun's  mighty  low  wid  de  fever,  en 
he  bleedzd  ter  go  atter  some  pills  fer'm,  en  he  ax 
Brer  Fox  fer  ter  take  his  place  en  go  down  ter  Miss 
Meadows's  en  have  nice  time  wid  de  gals.  Brer  Fox, 
he  in  fer  dem  kinder  pranks,  en  'twa'n't  no  time  'fo' 
Brer  Rabbit  had  ole  Brer  Fox  harness  up  dar  in  his 
place,  en  den  he  make  like  he  got  ter  make  'as'e  en 
git  de  pills  fer  dem  sick  chilluns.  Brer  Rabbit  wa'n't 
mo'n  out  er  sight  'fo'  yer  come  Mr.  Man  wid  a  han'ful 


146 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


er  hick'ries,  but  w'en  he  see  Brer  Fox  tied  up  dar,  he 
look  like  he  Astonished. 

"  'Heyo!'  sez  Mr.  Man,  sezee,  'you  done  change 
color,  en  you  done  got  bigger,  en  yo'  tail  done  grow 


out.  Wat  kin'er  w'atzyname  is  you,  ennyhow?'  sezee. 
"Brer  Fox,  he  stay  still,  en  Mr.  Man,  he  talk  on: 
"  'Hit's  mighty  big  luck/  sezee,  *ef  w'en  I  ketch  de 
chap  w'at  nibble  my  greens,  likewise  I  ketch  de  feller 
w'at  gnyaw  my  goose,'  sezee,  en  wid  dat  he  let  inter 
Brex  Fox  wid  de  hick'ries,  en  de  way  he  play  rap- 
jacket  wuz  a  caution  ter  de  naberhood.  Brer  Fox,  he 


MR.    FOX  GETS   INTO   SERIOUS   BUSINESS  147 

juk  en  he  jump,  en  he  squeal  en  he  squall,  but  Mr, 
Man,  he  shower  down  on  'im,  he  did,  like  fightin'  a 
red  was'nes'." 

The  little  boy  laughed,  and  Uncle  Remus  supple 
mented  this  indorsement  of  his  descriptive  powers 
with  a  most  infectious  chuckle. 

"Bimeby,"  continued  the  old  man,  "de  switches, 
dey  got  frazzle  out,  en  Mr.  Man,  he  put  out  atter  mo', 
en  w'en  he  done  got  fa'rly  outer  yearin',  Brer  Rabbit, 
he  show'd  up,  he  did,  kaze  he  des  bin  hidin'  out  in  de 
bushes  lis'nin'  at  de  racket,  en  he  low  hit  mighty1 
funny  dat  Miss  Meadows  ain't  come  long,  kaze  he 
done  bin  down  ter  de  doctor  house,  en  dat's  fuddei' 
dan  de  preacher,  yit.  Brer  Rabbit  make  like  he  hur- 
r'in'  on  home,  but  Brer  Fox,  he  open  up,  he  did,  en 
he  say: 

"1  thank  you  fer  ter  tu'n  me  loose,  Brer  Rabbit, 
en  111  be  'blije,'  sezee,  Icaze  you  done  tie  me  up  so 
tight  dat  it  make  my  head  swim,  en  I  don't  speck  I'd 
las'  fer  ter  git  ter  Miss  Meadows's,'  sezee. 

"Brer  Rabbit,  he  sot  down  sorter  keerless  like,  en 
begin  fer  ter  scratch  one  year  like  a  man  studyin' 
'bout  sump'n. 

"Dat's  so,  Brer  Fox,'  sezee,  'you  duz  look  sorter 
stove  up.  Look  like  sump'n  bin  onkoamiii'  yo'  ha'rs,' 
sezee. 

"Brer  Fox  ain't  sayin'  nothin',  but  Brer  Rabbit,  he 
keep  on  talkin': 


148 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


"  'Dey  ain't  no  bad  f eelin's  'twix'  us,  is  dey,  Brer 
Fox?  Kaze  ef  dey  is,  I  ain't  got  no  time  fer  ter  be 
tarryin'  'roun'  yer/ 


"Brer  Fox  say  w'ich  he  don't  have  no  onfrennel- 
wess,  en  wid  dat  Brer  Rabbit  cut  Brer  Fox  loose  des 
in  time  fer  ter  hear  Mr.  Man  w'isserlin  up  his  dogs, 
en  one  went  one  way  en  de  udder  went  nudder." 


HOW  MR.   RABBIT  SUCCEEDED  IN  RAISING  A  DUST      149 

XXX 

HOW  MR.  RABBIT  SUCCEEDED  IN  RAISING  A  DUST 

"!N  dem  times,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  gazing  admir 
ingly  at  himself  in  a  fragment  of  looking-glass,  "Brer 
Rabbit,  en  Brer  Fox,  en  Brer  Coon,  en  dem  yuther 
creeturs  go  co'tin'  en  sparklin'  'roun'  de  naberhood 
mo'  samer  dan  folks.  'Twan't  no  'Lemme  a  hoss,'  ner 
'Fetch  me  my  buggy,'  but  dey  des  up'n  lit  out  en  tote 
deyse'f.  Dar's  ole  Brer  Fox,  he  des  wheel  'roun'  en 
fetch  his  flank  one  swipe  wid  'is  tongue  en  he'd  be 
koam  up;  en  Brer  Rabbit,  he  des  spit  on  his  han'  en 
twis'  it  'roun'  'mongst  de  roots  er  his  years  en  his 
ha  Yd  be  roach.  Dey  wuz  dat  flirtashus,"  continued 
the  old  man,  closing  one  eye  at  his  image  in  the  glass, 
"dat  Miss  Meadows  en  de  gals  don't  se  no  peace  fum 
one  week  een'  ter  de  udder.  Chuseday  wuz  same  as 
Sunday,  en  Friday  wuz  same  as  Chuseday,  en  hit 
come  down  ter  dat  pass  dat  w'en  Miss  Meadows  'ud 
have  chicken-fixins  fer  dinner,  in  'ud  drap  Brer  Fox 
en  Brer  Possum,  en  w'en  she'd  have  fried  greens  in 
'ud  pop  ole  Brer  Rabbit,  twel  'las'  Miss  Meadows,  she 
tuck'n  tell  de  gals  dat  she  be  dad-blame  ef  she 
gwineter  keep  no  tawum.  So  dey  fix  it  up  'mong 
deyse'f,  Miss  Meadows  en  de  gals  did,  dat  de  nex' 
time  de  gents  call  dey'd  gin  um  a  game.  De  gents, 
dey  wuz  a  co'tin,  but  Miss  Meadows,  she  don't  wanter 


150      LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

marry  none  un  um,  en  needer  duz  de  gals,  en  likewise 
dey  don't  wanter  have  um  pester'n  'roun.'  Las',  one 
Chuseday,  Miss  Meadows,  she  tole  um  dat  ef  dey 
come  down  ter  her  house  de  nex'  Sat'day  evenin',  de 
whole  caboodle  un  um  'ud  go  down  de  road  a  piece, 
whar  der  wuz  a  big  flint  rock,  en  de  man  w'at  could 
take  a  sludge-hammer  en  knock  de  dus'  out'n  dat 
rock,  he  wuz  de  man  w'at  'ud  git  de  pick  er  de  gals. 
Dey  all  say  dey  gwine  do  it,  but  ole  Brer  Rabbit,  he 
crope  off  whar  der  wuz  a  cool 
place  under  some  jimson  weeds, 
en  dar  he  sot  wukkin  his  mind 
how  he  gwineter  git  dus'  out'n 
dat  rock.  Bimeby,  w'ile  he  wuz 
a  settin'  dar,  up  he  jump  en 
tcrack  his  heels  tergedder  en  sing 
out: 

"'Make  a  bow  ter  de  Buzzard  en 

den  ter  de  Crow, 
Takes  a  limber-toe  gemmun  fer 
ter  jump  Jim  Crow,' 


en  wid  dat  he  Put  out  £or  Brer 

Coon  house  en  borrer  his  slip 
pers.  Wen  Sat'day  evenin*  come, 
dey  wuz  all  dere.  Miss  Meadows 
en  de  gals,  dey  wuz  dere;  en  Brer  Coon,  en  Brer  Fox5 
en  Brer  Possum,  en  Brer  Tarrypin,  dey  wuz  dere." 


HOW  MR.  RABBIT  SUCCEEDED  IN  RAISING  A  DUST      151 

"Where  was  the  Rabbit?"  the  little  boy  asked. 

"Yuk'n  put  yo'  'pennunce  in  ole  Brer  Rabbit," 
the  old  man  replied,  with  a  chuckle.  "He  wuz  dere, 
but  he  shuffle  up  kinder  late,  kaze  w'en  Miss 
Meadows  en  de  ballunce  un  um  done  gone  down  ter 
de  place,  Brer  Rabbit,  he  crope  'roun'  ter  de  ash- 
hopper,  en  fill  Brer  Coon  slippers  full  er  ashes,  en  den 
he  tuck'n  put  um  on  en  march  off.  He  got  dar  atter 
Vile,  en  soon's  Miss  Meadows  en  de  gals  seed  'im, 
dey  up'n  giggle,  en  make  a  great  'miration  kaze  Brer 
Rabbit  got  on  slippers.  Brer  Fox,  he  so  smart,  he 
holler  out,  he  did,  en  say  he  lay  Brer  Rabbit  got  de 
groun'-eatch,  but  Brer  Rabbit,  he  sorter  shet  one  eye, 
he  did,  en  say,  sezee: 

"1  bin  so  useter  ridin'  hoss-back,  ez  deze  ladies 
knows,  dat  I'm  gittin'  sorter  tender-footed;'  en  dey 
don't  hear  much  mo'  fum  Brer  Fox  dat  day,  kaze  he 
'member  how  Brer  Rabbit  done  bin  en  rid  him;  en  hit 
'uz  des  T)out  much  ez  Miss  Meadows  en  de  gals  could 
do  f er  ter  keep  der  snickers  fum  gittin'  up  a  'sturbance 
'mong  de  congergashun.  But,  never  mine  dat,  old  Brer 
Rabbit,  he  wuz  dar,  en  he  so  brash  dat  leetle  mo'  en 
he'd  er  grab  up  de  sludge-hammer  en  er  open  up  de 
racket  'fo'  ennybody  gun  de  word;  but  Brer  Fox,  he 
shove  Brer  Rabbit  out'n  de  way  en  pick  up  de  sludge 
hisse'f .  Now  den,"  continued  the  old  man,  with  pretty 
much  the  air  of  one  who  had  been  the  master  of  sim 
ilar  ceremonies,  "de  progance  wuz  dish  yer:  Eve'y 


152 


LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


gent  wer  ter  have  th'ee  licks  at  de  rock,  en  de  gent 
w'at  fetch  de  dus'  he  were  de  one  w'at  gwineter  take 
de  pick  er  de  gals.  Ole  Brer  Fox,  he  grab  de  sludge- 
hammer,  he  did,  en  he  come  down  on  de  lock—bliml 


No  dus'  ain't  come.  Den  he  draw  back  en  down  he 
come  agm—blam!  No  dus'  ain't  come.  Den  he  spit  in 
his  han's,  en  give  'er  a  big  swing  en  down  she  come— 
kerblap!  En  yit  no  dus'  ain't  flew'd.  Den  Brer  Possum 
he  make  triul,  en  Brer  Coon,  en  all  de  ballunce  im 


A  PLANTATION  WITCH  153 

um  'cep'  Brer  Tarrypin,  en  he  low  dat  he  got  a  crick 
in  his  neck.  Den  Brer  Rabbit,  he  grab  holt  er  de 
sludge,  en  he  lipt  up  in  de  a'r  en  come  down  on  de 
rock  all  at  de  same  time— powl— en  de  ashes,  dey 
flcwM  up  so,  dey  did,  dat  Brer  Fox,  he  tuck'n  had  a 
sneezin'  spell,  en  Miss  Meadows  en  de  gals  dey  up'n 
koff.  Th'ee  times  Brer  Rabbit  jump  up  en  crack  his 
heels  tergedder  en  come  down  wid  de  sludge-ham 
mer—  ker-blaml— en  eve'y  time  he  jump  up,  he  holler 
out: 

"'Stan*  fudder,  ladies!  Yer  come  de  dusT  en  sho 
miff,  de  dus'  come. 

"LeasVays,"  continued  Uncle  Remus,  "Brer  Rab 
bit  got  one  er  de  gals,  en  dey  had  a  weddin'  en  a  big 
infa'r." 

"Which  of  the  girls  did  the  Rabbit  marry?"  asked 
the  little  boy,  dubiously. 

"I  did  year  tell  un  'er  name,"  replied  the  old  man, 
with  a  great  affectation  of  interest,  "but  look  like  I 
done  gone  en  fergit  it  offn  my  mine.  Ef  I  don't  dis- 
remember,"  he  continued,  "hit  wuz  Miss  Molly  Cot 
tontail,  en  I  speck  we  better  let  it  go  at  dat." 

XXXI 

A  PLANTATION  WITCH 

THE  next  time  the  little  boy  got  permission  to  call 
upon  Uncle  Remus,  the  old  man  was  sitting  in  his 


154  LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

door,  with  his  elbows  on  his  knees  and  his  face  buried 
in  his  hands,  and  he  appeared  to  be  m  great  trouble. 

"What's  the  matter,  Uncle  Remus?"  the  youngster 
asked. 

"Nuff  de  matter,  honey— mo'  dan  dey's  enny  kyo 
fer.  Ef  dey  ain't  some  quare  gwines  on  'roun'  dis 
place  I  ain't  name  Remus." 

The  serious  tone  of  the  old  man  caused  the  little 
boy  to  open  his  eyes.  The  moon,  just  at  its  full,  cast 
long,  vague,  wavering  shadows  in  front  of  the  cabin, 
A  colony  of  tree-frogs  somewhere  in  the  distance 
were  treating  their  neighbors  to  a  serenade,  but  to 
the  little  boy  it  sounded  like  a  chorus  of  lost  and  long- 
forgotten  whistlers.  The  sound  was  wherever  the  im 
agination  chose  to  locate  it— to  the  right,  to  the  left, 
in  the  air,  on  the  ground,  far  away  or  near  at  hand, 
but  always  dim  and  always  indistinct.  Something  in 
Uncle  Remus's  tone  exactly  fitted  all  these  surround 
ings,  and  the  child  nestled  closer  to  the  old  man. 

"Yasser,"  continued  Uncle  Remus,  with  an  ominous 
sigh  and  mysterious  shake  of  the  head,  "ef  dey  ain't 
some  quare  gwines  on  in  dish  yer  naberhood,  den  I'm 
de  ball-headest  creetur  'twix'  dis  en  nex'  Jinawerry 
wuz  a  year  'go,  w'ich  I  knows  I  ain't.  Dat's  what." 

"What  is  it,  Uncle  Remus?" 

"I  know  Mars  John  bin  drivin'  Cholly  sorter  hard 
ter-day,  en  I  say  ter  myse'f  dat  I'd  drap  'round  *bout 
dus'  en  fling  nudder  year  er  corn  in  de  troff  en  kinder 


A  PLANTATION   WITCH  155 

gin  'im  a  techin'  up  wid  de  kurrier-koam;  en  bless 
grashus!  I  ain't  bin  in  de  lot  mo'n  a  minnit  'fo'  I  seed 
sump'n  wuz  wrong  wid  de  boss,  and  sho'  nuff  dar 
wuz  his  mane  full  er  witch-stirrups." 

"Full  of  what,  Uncle  Remus?" 

"Full  er  witch-stirrups,  honey.  Ain't  you  seed  no 
witch-stirrups?  Well,  w'en  you  see  two  stran'  er  ha'r 
tied  tergedder  in  a  boss's  mane,  dar  you  see  a  witch- 
stirrup,  en,  mo'n  dat,  dat  boss  done  bin  rid  by  um." 

"Do  you  reckon  they  have  been  riding  Charley?" 
inquired  the  little  boy. 

"Co'se,  honey.  Tooby  sho  dey  is.  Wat  else  dey  bin 
doin'?" 

"Did  you  ever  see  a  witch,  Uncle  Remus?" 

"Dat  ain't  needer  yer  ner  dar.  W'en  I  see  coon 
track  in  de  branch,  I  know  de  coon  bin  'long  dar.' 

The  argument  seemed  unanswerable,  and  the  little 
boy  asked,  in  a  confidential  tone: 

"Uncle  Remus,  what  are 
witches  like?" 

"Dey  comes  diffunt,"  re 
sponded  the  cautious  old 
darkey.  "Dey  comes  en  dey 
cunjus  fokes.  Squinch-owl  hol-j 
ler  eve'y  time  he  see  a  witch,c 
en  w'en  you  hear  de  dog 
howlin'  in  de  middle  er  de 
night,  one  un  urn's  mighty  ap'  ter  be  prowlin'  'roun', 


156 


LEGENDS   OF   THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


Cunjun  f okes  kin  tell  a  witch  de  minnit  dey  lays  der 
eyes  on  it,  but  dem  w'at  ain't  cunjun,  hit's  mighty 
hard  ter  tell  w'en  dey  see  one,  kaze  dey  might  come 
in  de  'pearunce  un  a  cow  en  all  kinder  creeturs.  I  ain't 


bin  useter  no  cunjun  myse'f ,  but  I  bin  livin'  long  miff 
fer  ter  know  w'en  you  meets  up  wid  a  big  black  cat  in 
de  middle  er  de  road,  wid  yaller  eyeballs,  dars  yo' 
witch  fresh  fum  de  Ole  Boy.  En,  fuddermo',  I  know 
dat  'tain't  proned  inter  no  dogs  fer  ter  ketch  de  rab- 


A  PLANTATION  WITCH  137 

bit  w'at  use  in  a  berryin'-groun'.  Dey  er  de  mosJ 
ongodlies'  creeturs  w'at  you  ever  laid  eyes  on,"  con 
tinued  Uncle  Remus,  with  unction.  "Down  dar  in 
Putmon  County  yo'  Unk  Jeems,  he  make  like  he 
gwineter  ketch  wunner  dem  dar  graveyard  rabbits. 
Sho  nuff,  out  he  goes,  en  de  dogs  ain't  no  mo'n  got 
ter  de  place  fo'  up  jump  de  old  rabbit  right  'mong  urn, 
en  atter  runnin'  'roun'  a  time  or  two,  she  skip  right 
up  ter  Mars  Jeems,  en  Mars  Jeems,  he  des  put  de 
gun-bairl  right  on  'er  en  lammed  aloose.  Hit  tored  up 
de  groun'  all  'roun',  en  de  dogs,  dey  rush  up,  but  dey 
wa'n't  no  rabbit  dar;  but  bimeby  Mars  Jeems,  he 
seed  de  dogs  tuckin'  der  tails  'tween  der  legs,  en  he 
look  up,  en  dar  wuz  de  rabbit  caperin'  'roun'  on  a 
toom  stone,  en  wid  dat  Mars  Jeems  say  he  sorter  feel 
like  de  time  done  come  w'en  yo'  gran'ma  was  'speck- 
tin'  un  him  home,  en  he  call  off  de  dogs  en  put  out. 
But  dem  wuz  ha'nts.  Witches  is  deze  yer  kinder  fokes 
wat  kin  drap  der  body  en  change  inter  a  cat  en  a 
wolf  en  all  kinder  creeturs." 

"Papa  says  there  ain't  any  witches,"  the  little  boy 
interrupted. 

"Mars  John  ain't  live  long  ez  I  is,"  said  Uncle 
Remus,  by  way  of  comment.  "He  ain't  bin  broozin' 
'roun'  all  hours  er  de  night  en  day.  I  know'd  a  nigger 
w'ich  his  brer  wuz  a  witch,  kaze  he  up'n  tole  me  how 
he  tuck'n  kyo'd  'im;  en  he  kyo'd  'im  good,  mon." 


158  LEGENDS  OF   THE   OLD  PLANTATION 

"How  was  that?*'  inquired  the  little  boy. 

"Hit  seem  like,"  continued  Uncle  Remus,  "dat 
witch  fokes  is  got  a  slit  in  de  back  er  de  neck,  en  w'en 
dey  wanter  change  derse'f,  dey  des  pull  de  hide  over 
der  head  same  ez  if  'twuz  a  shut,  en  dar  dey  is." 

"Do  they  get  out  of  their  skins?"  asked  the  little 
boy,  in  an  awed  tone. 

"Tooby  sho,  honey.  You  see  yo'  pa  pull  his  shut 
off?  Well,  dat  dez  'zackly  de  way  dey  duz.  But  dish 
yere  nigger  w'at  I'm  tellin'  you  lout,  he  kyo'd  his 
brer  de  v'ey  fus  pass  he  made  at  him.  Hit  got  so  dat 
fokes  in  de  settlement  didn't  have  no  peace.  De  chil- 
luns  'ud  wake  up  in  de  mawnins  wid  der  ha'r  tangle 
up,  en  wid  scratches  on  um  like  dey  bin  thoo  a  brier- 
patch,  twel  bimeby  one  day  de  nigger  he  'low  dat 
he'd  set  up  dat  night  en  keep  one  eye  on  his  brer;  en 
sho'  miff  dat  night,  des  ez  de  chickens  wuz  crowin' 
fer  twelve,  up  jump  de  brer  and  pull  off  his  skin  en 
sail  out'n  de  house  in  de  shape  un  a  bat,  en  w'at  duz 
de  nigger  do  but  grab  up  de  hide,  and  turn  it  wrong- 
sudout'ards  en  sprinkle  it  wid  salt.  Den  he  lay  down 
en  watch  fer  ter  see  w'at  de  news  wuz  gwineter  be. 
Des  'f o'  day  yer  come  a  big  black  cat  in  de  do',  en  de 
nigger  git  up,  he  did,  en  druv  her  away.  Bimeby,  yer 
come  a  big  black  dog  snuffin'  roun',  en  de  nigger  up 
wid  a  chunk  en  lammed  'im  side  er  de  head.  Den  a 
squinch-owl  lit  on  de  koam  er  de  house,  en  de  nigger 
jam  de  shovel  in  de  fier  en  make  'im  flew  away< 


"Yer  come  a  great  big  black  wolf.' 


A  PLANTATION  WITCH  159 

Las',  yer  come  a  great  big  black  wolf  wid  his  eyes 
shinin'  like  fier  coals,  en  he  grab  de  hide  and  rush  out. 
'Twa'n't  long  'fo*  de  nigger  year  his  brer  holler'n  en 
squallin',  en  he  tuck  a  light,  he  did,  en  went  out,  en 
dar  wuz  his  brer  des  a  waller'n  on  de  groun*  en 
squirmin'  'roun',  kaze  de  salt  on  de  skin  wuz  stingin' 
wuss'n  ef  he  had  his  britches  lineded  wid  yaller- 
jackets.  By  nex'  mawnin'  he  got  so  he  could  sorter 
shuffle  long,  but  he  gun  up  cunjun,  en  ef  dere  wuz 
enny  mo*  witches  in  dat  settlement  dey  kep*  mighty 
close,  en  dat  nigger  he  ain't  skunt  hisse'f  no  mo'  not 
endurin*  er  my  'membunce." 

The  result  of  this  was  that  Uncle  Remus  had  to 
take  the  little  boy  by  the  hand  and  go  with  him  to 
the  "big  house,"  which  the  old  man  was  not  loath  to 
do;  and,  when  the  child  went  to  bed,  he  lay  awake  a 
long  time  expecting  an  unseemly  visitation  from 
some  mysterious  source.  It  soothed  him,  however,  to 
hear  the  strong,  musical  voice  of  his  sable  patron,  not 
very  far  away,  tenderly  contending  with  a  lusty  tune; 
and  to  this  accompaniment  the  little  boy  dropped 
asleep: 

"Hit's  eighteen  hunder'd,  forty-en-eight, 
Christ  done  made  dat  crooked  way  straight- 
En  I  don't  wanter  stay  here  no  longer; 
Hit's  eighteen  hunder'd,  forty-en-nine, 
Christ  done  turn  dat  water  inter  wine- 
En  I  don't  wanter  stay  here  no  longer." 


160      LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

xxxn 
"JACKY-MV-LANTERN"  * 

UPON  his  next  visit  to  Uncle  Remus,  the  little  boy 
was  exceedingly  anxious  to  know  more  about  witches, 
but  the  old  man  prudently  refrained  from  exciting  the 
youngster's  imagination  any  further  in  that  direction. 
Uncle  Remus  had  a  board  across  his  lap,  and,  armed 
with  a  mallet  and  a  shoe-knife,  was  engaged  in  mak 
ing  shoe-pegs. 

"Wiles  I  wuz  crossin'  de  branch  des  now,"  he  said, 
endeavoring  to  change  the  subject,  "I  come  up  wid  a 
Jacky-my-lantern,  en  she  wuz  bu'nin'  wuss'n  a  bunch 
er  lightnin'-bugs,  mon.  I  know'd  she  wuz  a  fixin'  fer 
ter  lead  me  inter  dat  quogmire  down  in  de  swamp, 
en  I  steer'd  cle  r  un'  er.  Yasser.  I  did  dat.  You  ain't 
never  seed  no  Jacky-my-lanterns,  is  you,  honey?" 

The  little  boy  never  had,  but  he  had  heard  of  them, 
and  he  wanted  to  know  what  they  were,  and  there 
upon  Uncle  Remus  proceeded  to  tell  him. 

"One  time,"  said  the  old  darkey,  transferring  his 
spectacles  from  his  nose  to  the  top  of  his  head  and 

*  This  story  is  popular  on  the  coast  and  among  the  rice-planta 
tions,  and,  since  the  publication  of  some  of  the  animal-myths  in  the 
newspapers,  I  have  received  a  version  of  it  from  a  planter  in  south 
west  Georgia;  but  it  seems  to  me  to  be  an  intruder  among  the 
genuine  myth-stories  of  the  negroes.  It  is  a  trifle  too  elaborate. 
Nevertheless,  it  is  told  upon  the  plantations  with  great  gusto,  and 
there  are  several  versions  in  circulation* 


"jACKY-MY-LANTEEUSr"  161 

leaning  his  elbows  upon  his  peg-board,  "dere  wuz  a 
blacksmif  man,  en  dish  yer  blacksmif  man,  he  tuck'n 
stuck  closer  by  his  dram  dan  he  did  by  his  bellus. 
Monday  mawnin'  he'd  git  on  a  spree,  en  all  dat  week 
he'd  be  on  a  spree,  en  de  nex'  Monday  mawnin'  he'd 
take  a  fresh  start.  Bimeby,  one  day,  atter  de  black 
smif  bin  spreein'  'roun'  en  cussin'  might'ly,  he  hear  a 
sorter  rustlin'  fuss  at  de  do',  en  in  walk  de  Bad  Man." 

"Who,  Uncle  Remus?"  the  little  boy  asked. 

"De  Bad  Man,  honey;  de  Ole  Boy  hisse'f  right 
fresh  from  de  ridjun  w'at  you  year  Miss  Sally  readin' 
'bout.  He  done  hide  his  hawns,  en  his  tail,  en  his 
hoof,  en  he  come  dress  up  like  w'ite  fokes.  He  tuck 
off  his  hat  en  he  bow,  en  den  he  tell  de  blacksmif  who 
he  is,  en  dat  he  done  come  atter  'im.  Den  de  black 
smif,  he  gun  ter  cry  en  beg,  en  he  beg  so  hard  en  he 
cry  so  loud  dat  de  Bad  Man  say  he  make  a  trade  wid 
'im.  At  de  een'  er  one  year  de  sperit  er  de  blacksmif 
wuz  to  be  his'n  en  endurin'  er  dat  time  de  blacksmif 
mus'  put  in  his  hottes'  licks  in  de  intruss  er  de  Bad 
Man,  en  den  he  put  a  spell  on  de  cheer  de  blacksmif 
was  settin'  in,  en  on  his  sludge-hammer.  De  man 
w'at  sot  in  de  cheer  couldn't  git  up  less'n  de  black 
smif  let  'im,  en  de  man  w'at  pick  up  de  sludge  'ud 
hatter  keep  on  knockin'  wid  it  twel  de  blacksmif  say 
quit;  en  den  he  gun  'im  money  plenty,  en  off  he  put. 

"De  blacksmif,  he  sail  in  fer  ter  have  his  fun,  en  he 
have  so  much  dat  he  done  clean  forgot  *bout  his  con- 


162 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


track,  but  bimeby,  one  day  he  look  down  de  road,  en 
dar  he  see  de  Bad  Man  comin',  en  den  he  know'd  de 


year  wuz  out.  Wen  de  Bad  Man  got  in  de  do',  de 
blacksmif  wuz  poundin'  'way  at  a  hoss-shoe,  but  he 
wa'n't  so  bizzy  dat  he  didn't  ax  'im  in.  De  Bad  Man 
sorter  do  like  he  ain't  got  no  time  f er  ter  tarry,  but  de 
blacksmif  say  he  got  some  little  jobs  dat  he  bleedzd 
ter  finish  up,  en  den  he  ax  de  Bad  Man  fer  ter  set 
down  a  minnit;  en  de  Bad  Man,  he  tuck'n  sot  down, 


"JACKY-MY-LANTERN"  163 

en  he  sot  in  dat  cheer  w'at  he  done  conju'd  en,  co'se, 
dar  he  wuz.  Den  de  blacksmif,  he  'gun  ter  poke  fun 
at  de  Bad  Man,  en  he  ax  him  don't  he  want  a  dram, 
en  won't  he  hitch  his  cheer  up  little  nigher  de  fier, 
en  de  Bad  Man,  he  beg  en  he  beg,  but  'twan't  doin' 
no  good,  kase  de  blacksmif  low  dat  he  gwineter  keep 
'im  dar  twel  he  promus  dat  he  let  'iiri  off  one  year  mo', 
en,  sho  miff,  de  Bad  Man  promus  dat  ef  de  black 
smif  let  'im  up  he  give  'im  a  n'er  showin'.  So  den  de 
blacksmif  gun  de  wud,  en  de  Bad  Man  sa'nter  off 
down  de  big  road,  settin'  traps  en  layin'  his  progance 
fer  ter  ketch  mo*  sinners. 

"De  nex'  year  hit  pass  same  like  t'er  one.  At  de 
'p'inted  time  yer  come  de  Ole  Boy  atter  de  blacksmif, 
but  still  de  blacksmif  had  some  jobs  dat  he  bleedzd  ter 
finish  up,  en  he  ax  de  Bad  Man  fer  ter  take  holt  er  de 
sludge  en  he  he'p  'im  out;  en  de  Bad  Man,  he  low  dat 
r'er'n  be  disperlite,  he  don't  keer  ef  he  do  hit  'er  a  biff 
er  two;  en  wid  dat  he  grab  up  de  sludge,  en  dar  he 
wuz  'gin,  kase  he  done  conju'd  de  sludge  so  dat  who- 
somedever  tuck  'er  up  can't  put  'er  down  less'n  de 
blacksmif  say  de  wud.  Dey  perlaver'd  dar,  dey  did, 
twel  bimeby  de  Bad  Man  he  up'n  let  'im  off  n'er  year. 

"Well,  den,  dat  year  pass  same  ez  t'er  one.  Mont' 
in  en  mont'  out  dat  man  wuz  rollin'  in  dram,  en 
bimeby  yer  come  de  Bad  Man.  De  blacksmif  cry  en 
he  holler,  en  he  rip  'roun'  en  t'ar  his  ha'r,  but  hit  des 
like  he  didn't,  kase  de  Bad  Man  grab  'im  up  en  cram 


164      LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

'im  in  a  bag  en  tote  'im  off.  Wiles  dey  wuz  gwine 
long  dey  come  up  wid  a  passel  er  fokes  w'at  wuz 
havin'  wunner  deze  yer  fote  er  July  bobbycues,  en  de 
Ole  Boy,  he  low  dat  maybe  he  kin  git  some  mo* 
game,  en  w'at  do  he  do  but  jine  in  wid  um.  He  jines 
in  en  he  talk  politics  same  like  t'er  fokes,  twel  bimeby 
dinnertime  corne  'roun',  en  dey  ax  'im  up,  w'ich  'greed 
wid  his  stummuck,  en  he  pozzit  his  bag  underneed  de 
table  longside  de  udder  bags  w'at  de  hongry  fokes'd 
brung. 

"No  sooner  did  de  blacksmif  git  back  on  de  groun' 
dan  he  'gun  ter  wuk  his  way  outer  de  bag.  He  crope 
out,  he  did,  en  den  he  tuck'n  change  de  bag.  He 
tuck'n  tuck  a  n'er  bag  en  lay  it  down  whar  dish  yer 
bag  wuz,  en  den  he  crope  outer  de  crowd  en  lay  low 
in  de  underbresh. 

"Las',  w'en  de  time  come  fer  ter  go,  de  Ole  Boy  up 
wid  his  bag  en  slung  her  on  his  shoulder,  en  off  he 
put  fer  de  Bad  Place.  Wen  he  got  dar  he  tuck'n  drap 
de  bag  off'n  his  back  en  call  up  de  imps,  en  dey  des 
come  a  squallin'  en  a  caperin',  w'ich  I  speck  dey  mus' 
a  bin  hongry.  Leas'ways  dey  des  swawm'd  'roun', 
hollerin'  out: 

"  'Daddy,  w'at  you  brung— daddy,  w'at  you  brung?* 

"So  den  dey  open  de  bag,  en  lo  en  beholes,  out 
jump  a  big  bull-dog,  en  de  way  he  shuck  dem  little 
imps  wuz  a  caution,  en  he  kep'  on  gnyawin'  un  urr 
twel  de  Ole  Boy  open  de  gate  en  t'un  'im  out.** 


'JACKY-MY-LANTERN" 


165 


"And  what  became  of  the  blacksmith?"  the  little 
boy  asked,  as  Uncle  Remus  paused  to  snuff  the  candle 
with  his  fingers. 

"I'm  drivin'  on  'roun',  honey.  Atter  'long  time, 
de  blacksmif  he  tuck'n  die,  en  w'en  he  go  ter  de  Good 
Place  de  man  at  de  gate 
dunner  who  he  is,  en  he 
can't  squeeze  in.  Den  he  go 
down  ter  de  Bad  Place,  en 
knock.  De  Ole  Boy,  he 
look  out,  he  did,  en  he 
know'd  de  blacksmif  de 
minnit  he  laid  eyes  on  'im; 
but  he  shake  his  head  en 
say,  sezee: 

'  'You'll  hatter  skuze  me, 
Brer  Blacksmif,  kase  I  dun 
had  'speunce  longer  you. 
You'll  hatter  go  some'rs  else  (  ^ 
ef  you  wanter  raise  enny 
racket,'  sezee,  en  wid  dat  f 
he  shet  do  do'.  i 

"En  dey  do  say,"  con-  ) 
tinued  Uncle  Remus,  with 
unction,  "dat  sense  dat  day 

de  blacksmif  bin  sorter  huv'rin'  'roun'  'twix'  de  heav 
ens  en  de  ye'th,  en  dark  nights  he  shine  out  so  fokes 
call  'im  Jacky-my-lantun.  Dat's  w'at  dey  tells  me.  Hit 


166      LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

may  be  wrong  er't  maybe  right,  but  dat's  w'at  I 
years. 


xxxm 
WHY  THE  NEGRO  IS  BLACK 

ONE  night,  while  the  little  boy  was  watching  Uncle 
Remus  twisting  and  waxing  some  shoe-thread,  he 
made  what  appeared  to  him  to  be  a  very  curious  dis 
covery.  He  discovered  that  the  palms  of  the  old 
man's  hands  were  as  white  as  his  own,  and  the  fact 
was  such  a  source  of  wonder  that  he  at  last  made  it 
the  subject  of  remark.  The  response  of  Uncle  Remus 
led  to  the  earnest  recital  of  a  piece  of  unwritten  his 
tory  that  must  prove  interesting  to  ethnologists. 

"Tooby  sho  de  pa'm  er  my  han's  w'ite,  honey,"  he 
quietly  remarked,  "en,  w'en  it  come  ter  dat,  dey  wuz 
a  time  w'en  all  de  w'ite  folks  'uz  black— blacker  dan 
me,  kaze  I  done  bin  yer  so  long  dat  I  bin  sorter 
bleach  out." 

The  little  boy  laughed.  He  thought  Uncle  Remus 
was  making  him  the  victim  of  one  of  his  jokes;  but 
the  youngster  was  never  more  mistaken.  The  old 
man  was  serious.  Nevertheless,  he  failed  to  rebuke 
the  ill-timed  mirth  of  the  child,  appearing  to  be  alto 
gether  engrossed  in  his  work.  After  a  while,  he  re 
sumed: 

"Yasser.  Pokes  dunner  w'at  bin  yit,  let  lone  w'at 


WHY  THE  NEGRO   IS   BLACK  167 

gwinter  be.  Niggers  is  niggers  now,  but  de  time  wuz 
w'en  we  'uz  all  niggers  tergedder." 

"When  was  that,  Uncle  Remus?" 

"Way  back  yander.  In  dem  times  we  'uz  all  un 
us  black;  we  'uz  all  niggers  tergedder,  en  'cordin'  ter 
all  de  'counts  w'at  I  years  fokes  'uz  gittin'  long  *bout 
ez  well  in  dem  days  ez  dey  is  now.  But  atter  'w'ile  de 
news  come  dat  dere  wuz  a  pon'  er  water  some'rs  in 
de  naberhood,  w'ich  ef  dey'd  git  inter  dey'd  be  wash 
off  nice  en  w'ite,  en  den  one  un  urn,  he  fine  de  place 
en  make  er  splunge  inter  de  pon',  en  come  out  w'ite 
ez  a  town  gal.  En  den,  bless  grashus!  w'en  de  fokes 
seed  it,  dey  make  a  break  fer  de  pon',  en  dem  w'at 
wuz  de  soopless,  dey  got  in  fus'  en  dey  come  out 
w'ite;  en  dem  w'at  wuz  de  nex'  soopless,  dey  got  in 
nex',  en  dey  come  out  merlatters;  en  dey  wuz  sech  a 
crowd  un  um  dat  dey  mighty  nigh  use  de  water  up, 
w'ich  w'en  dem  yuthers  come  long,  de  morest  dey 
could  do  wuz  ter  paddle  about  wid  der  foots  en 
dabble  in  it  wid  der  han's.  Dem  wuz  de  niggers,  en 
down  ter  dis  day  dey  ain't  no  w'ite  Tbout  a  nigger 
'ceppin  de  pa'ms  er  der  han's  en  de  soles  er  der  foot." 

The  little  boy  seemed  to  be  very  much  interested  in 
this  new  account  of  the  origin  of  races,  and  he  made 
some  further  inquiries,  which  elicited  from  Uncle  Re 
mus  the  following  additional  particulars: 

"De  Injun  en  de  Chinee  got  ter  be  'counted  long 
er  de  merlatter.  I  ain't  seed  no  Chinee  dat  I  knows 


168  LEGENDS   OF   THE  OLD   PLANTATION 

un,  but  dey  tells  me  dey  er  sorter  'twix'  a  brown  en  a 
brindle.  Dey  er  all  merlatters." 

"But  mamma  says  the  Chinese  have  straight  hair," 
the  little  boy  suggested. 

"Co'se,  honey/'  the  old  man  unhesitatingly  re 
sponded,  "dem  w'at  git  ter  de  pon'  time  nuff  fer  ter 
git  der  head  in  de  water,  de  water  hit  onkink  der  ha'r. 
Hit  bleedzd  ter  be  dat  away." 


xxxrv 
THE  SAD  FATE  OF  MR.  FOX 

"Now,  den,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  with  unusual 
gravity,  as  soon  as  the  little  boy,  by  taking  his  seat, 
announced  that  he  was  ready  for  the  evening's  enter 
tainment  to  begin;  "now,  den,  dish  yer  tale  w'at  I'm 
agwine  ter  gin  you  is  de  las'  row  er  stumps,  sho.  Dish 
yer's  whar  ole  Brer  Fox  los'  his  breff,  en  he  ain't  fine 
it  no  mo'  down  ter  dis  day." 

"Did  he  kill  himself,  Uncle  Remus?"  the  little  boy 
asked,  with  a  curious  air  of  concern. 

"Hole  on  dar,  honey!"  the  old  man  exclaimed,  with 
a  great  affectation  of  alarm;  "hole  on  dar!  Wait! 
Gimme  room!  I  don't  wanter  tell  you  no  story,  en  ef 
you  keep  shovin'  me  forrerd,  I  mout  git  some  er  de 
facks  mix  up  'mong  deyse'f.  You  gotter  gimme  room 
en  you  gotter  gimme  time." 

The  little  boy  had  no  other  premature  questions 


THE  SAD  FATE  OF   MR.    FOX  169 

to  ask,  and,  after  a  pause,  Uncle  Remus  resumed: 

"Well,  den,  one  day  Brer  Rabbit  go  ter  Brer  Fox 
house,  he  did,  en  he  put  up  mighty  po'  mouf .  He  say 
his  ole  'oman  sick,  en  his  chilluns  cole,  en  de  fier  done 
gone  out.  Brer  Fox,  he  feel  bad  'bout  dis,  en  he  tuck'n 
s'ply  Brer  Rabbit  widder  chunk  er  fier.  Brer  Rabbit 
see  Brer  Fox  cookin'  some  nice  beef,  en  his  mouf  gun 
ter  water,  but  he  take  de  fier,  he  did,  en  he  put  out 
to'rds  home;  but  presently  yer  he  come  back,  en  he 
say  de  fier  done  gone  out.  Brer  Fox  low  dat  he  want 
er  invite  to  dinner,  but  he  don't  say  nuthin',  en 
bimeby  Brer  Rabbit  he  up'n  say,  sezee: 

"  'Brer  Fox,  whar  you  git  so  much  nice  beef?' 
sezee,  en  den  Brer  Fox  he  up'n  'spon',  sezee: 

'  'You  come  ter  my  house  ter-morrer  ef  yo*  fokes 
ain't  too  sick,  en  I  kin  show  you  whar  you  kin  git 
plenty  beef  mo'  nicer  dan  dish  yer,'  sezee. 

"Well,  sho  nuff,  de  nex'  day  fotch  Brer  Rabbit,  en 
Brer  Fox  say,  sezee: 

"'Der's  a  man  down  yander  by  Miss  Meadows's 
w'at  got  heap  er  fine  cattle,  en  he  gotter  cow  name 
Bookay,'  sezee,  'en  you  des  go  en  say  Bookay,  en 
she'll  open  her  mouf,  en  you  kin  jump  in  en  git  des 
as  much  meat  ez  you  kin  tote,'  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee. 

"Well,  I'll  go  'long,'  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee,  'en 
you  kin  jump  fus'  en  den  111  come  follerin*  atter/ 
sezee. 

"Wid  dat  dey  put  out,  en  dey  went  promernadin' 


170 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 


'roun'  'mong  de  cattle,  dey  did,  twel  bimeby  dey 
struck  up  wid  de  one  dey  wuz  atter.  Brer  Fox,  he  up, 


he  did,  en  holler  Bookay,  en  de  cow  flung  'er  mouf 
wide  open.  Sho  nuff,  in  dey  jump,  en  w'en  dey  got 
dar,  Brer  Fox,  he  say,  sezee: 

"You  kin  cut  mos'  ennywheres,  Brer  Rabbit,  but 
don't  cut  'round'  de  haslett,'  sezee. 

"Den  Brer  Rabbit,  he  holler  back,  he  did:  Tm  a 
gitten  me  out  a  roas'n-piece,'  sezee. 

"  'Roas'n,  er  bakin',  er  fryin','  sez  Brer  Fox,  sezee, 
'don't  git  too  nigh  de  haslett/  sezee. 

"Dey  cut  en  dey  kyarved,  en  dey  kyarved  en  dey 
cut,  en  w'iles  dey  wuz  cuttin'  en  kyarvin',  en  slashin* 


THE  SAD  FATE  OF   MR.   FOX  171 

'way,  Brer  Rabbit,  he  tuck'n  hacked  inter  de  haslett, 
en  wid  dat  down  fell  de  cow  dead. 

"'Now,  den/  sez  Brer  Fox,  'we  er  gone,  sho/ 
sezee. 

:'  Wat  we  gwine  do?*  sez  Brer  Rabbit,  sezee. 

"  111  git  in  de  maul,'  sez  Brer  Fox,  'en  you'll  jump 
in  de  gall/  sezee. 

"Nex'  mawnin'  yer  cum  de  man  w'at  de  cow  blong 
ter,  and  he  ax  who  kill  Bookay.  Nobody  don't  say 
nuthin'.  Den  de  man  say  he'll  cut  'er  open  en  see, 
en  den  he  whirl  in,  en  twan't  no  time  'fo'  he  had  'er 
intruls  spread  out.  Brer  Rabbit,  he  crope  out'n  de 
gall,  en  say,  sezee: 

"  'Mister  Man!  Oh,  Mister  Man!  111  tell  you  who 
kill  yo'  cow.  You  look  in  de  maul,  en  dar  you'll  fine 
'im/  sezee. 

"Wid  dat  de  man  tuck  a  stick  and  lam  down  on  de 
maul  so  hard  dat  he  kill  Brer  Fox  stone-dead.  Wen 
Brer  Rabbit  see  Brer  Fox  wuz  laid  out  fer  good,  he 
make  like  he  mighty  sorry,  en  he  up'n  ax  de  man  fer 
Brer  Fox  head.  Man  say  he  ain't  keerin',  en  den  Brer 
Rabbit  tuck'n  brung  it  ter  Brer  Fox  house.  Dar  he 
see  ole  Miss  Fox,  en  he  tell  'er  dat  he  done  fotch  her 
some  nice  beef  w'at  'er  ole  man  sont  'er,  but  she  ain't 
gotter  look  at  it  twel  she  go  ter  eat  it. 

"Brer  Fox  son  wuz  name  Tobe,  en  Brer  Rabbit  tell 
Tobe  fer  ter  keep  still  w'iles  his  mammy  cook  de  nice 
beef  w'at  his  daddy  sont  'im.  Tobe  he  wuz  mighty 


172      LEGENDS  OF  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

hongry,  en  he  look  in  de  pot  he  did  wiles  de  cookin* 
wuz  gwine  on,  en  dar  he  see  his  daddy  head,  en  wid 
dat  he  sot  up  a  howl  en  tole  his  mammy.  Miss  Fox, 
she  git  mighty  mad  w'en  she  fine  she  cookin'  her  ole 
man  head,  en  she  call  up  de  dogs,  she  did,  en  sickt 
'em  on  Brer  Rabbit;  en  ole  Miss  Fox  en  Tobe  en  de 
dogs,  dey  push  Brer  Rabbit  so  close  dat  he  hatter 
take  a  holler  tree.  Miss  Fox,  she  tell  Tobe  fer  ter  stay 
dar  en  mine  Brer  Rabbit,  wile  she  goes  en  git  de  ax, 
en  w'en  she  gone,  Brer  Rabbit,  he  tole  Tobe  ef  he  go 
ter  de  branch  en  git  1m  a  drink  er  water  dat  hell  gin 
1m  a  dollar.  Tobe,  he  put  out,  he  did,  en  bring  some 
water  in  his  hat,  but  by  de  time  he  got  back  Brer 
Rabbit  done  out  en  gone.  Ole  Miss  Fox,  she  cut  and 
cut  twel  down  come  de  tree,  but  no  Brer  Rabbit  dar. 
Den  she  lay  de  blame  on  Tobe,  en  she  say  she  gwineter 
lash  1m,  en  Tobe,  he  put  out  en  run,  de  ole  'oman 
atter  1m.  Bimeby,  he  come  up  wid  Brer  Rabbit,  en 
sot  down  fer  to  tell  1m  how  'twuz,  en  wiles  dey  wuz 
a  settin'  dar,  yer  come  ole  Miss  Fox  a  slippin'  up  en 
grab  um  bofe.  Den  she  tell  um  w'at  she  gwine  do. 
Brer  Rabbit  she  gwineter  kill,  en  Tobe  she  gwineter 
lam  ef  its  de  las'  ack.  Den  Brer  Rabbit  sez,  sezee: 

"'Ef  you  please,  ma'am,  Miss  Fox,  lay  me  on  de 
grinestone  en  groun'  off  my  nose  so  I  can't  smell  no 
mo'  w'en  I'm  dead.' 

"Miss  Fox,  she  tuck  dis  ter  be  a  good  idee,  en  she 
fotch  bofe  un  um  ter  de  grinestone,  en  set  um  up  on 


THE  SAD  FATE  OF   MR.    FOX  173 

it  so  dat  she  could  groun'  off  Brer  Rabbit  nose.  Den 
Brer  Rabbit,  he  up'n  say,  sezee: 
"'Ef  you  please,  ma'am,  Miss  Fox,  Tobe  he  kin 


turn  de  handle  w'iles  you  goes  atter  some  water  fer 
ter  wet  de  grinestone/  sezee. 

"Co'se,  soon'z  Brer  Rabbit  see  Miss  Fox  go  atter 
de  water,  he  jump  down  en  put  out,  en  dis  time  he 
git  clean  away/' 

"And  was  that  the  last  of  the  Rabbit,  too,  Uncle 
Remus?"  the  little  boy  asked,  with  something  like 
a  sigh. 


174  LEGENDS   OF  THE  OLD   PLANTATION 

"Don't  push  me  too  close,  honey,"  responded  the 
old  man;  "don't  shove  me  up  in  no  cornder.  I  don't 
wanter  tell  you  no  stories.  Some  say  dat  Brer  Rab 
bit's  ole  'oman  died  fum  eatin'  some  pizen-weed,  en 
dat  Brer  Rabbit  married  ole  Miss  Fox,  en  some  say 
not.  Some  tells  one  tale  en  some  tells  nudder;  some 
say  da  fum  dat  time  forrer'd  de  Rabbits  en  de  Foxes 
make  fren's  en  stay  so;  some  say  dey  kep  on  quollin'. 
Hit  look  like  it  mixt.  Let  dem  tell  you  w'at  knows. 
Dat  w'at  I  years  you  gits  it  straight  like  I  yeard  it." 

There  was  a  long  pause,  which  was  finally  broken 
by  the  old  man: 

"Hit's  'gin  de  rules  fer  you  ter  be  noddin'  yer, 
honey.  Bimeby  you'll  drap  off  en  I'll  hatter  tote  you 
up  ter  de  big  'ouse.  I  hear  dat  baby  cryin',  en  bimeby 
Miss  Sally  11  fly  up  en  be  a  holler'n  atter  you." 

"Oh,  I  wasn't  asleep,"  the  little  boy  replied.  "I  was 
just  thinking." 

"Well,  dat's  diffunt,"  said  the  old  man.  "Ef  you'll 
clime  up  on  my  back,"  he  continued,  speaking  softly, 
"I  speck  I  ain't  too  ole  fer  ter  be  yo'  hoss  fum  yer 
ter  de  house.  Many  en  many's  de  time  dat  I  toted  yo' 
Unk  Jeems  dat  away,  en  Mars  Jeems  wuz  heavier  sot 
dan  w'at  you  is/' 


PLANTATION  PROVERBS 


BIG  'possum  clime  little  tree. 
Dem  w'at  eats  kin  say  grace. 
Ole  man  Know-All  died  las'  year. 
Better  de  gravy  dan  no  grease  'tall. 
Dram  ain't  good  twel  you  git  it. 
Lazy  fokes'  stummucks  don't  git  tired, 
Rheumatiz  don't  he  p  at  de  log-rollin'. 

175 


176  PLANTATION    PROVERBS 

Mole  don't  see  w'at  his  naber  doin'. 

Save  de  pacin'  mar'  fer  Sunday. 

Don't  rain  eve'y  time  de  pig  squeal. 

Crow  en  corn  can't  grow  in  de  same  fiel'. 

Tattlin'  'oman  can't  make  de  bread  rise. 

Rails  split  'fo'  bre*kfus'  11  season  de  dinner. 

Dem  w'at  knows  too  much  sleeps  under  de  ash- 
hopper. 

Ef  you  wanter  see  yo'  own  sins,  clean  up  a  new 
groun'. 

Hog  dunner  w'ich  part  un  'imll  season  de  turnip 
salad. 

Hit's  a  blessin'  de  w'ite  sow  don't  shake  de  plum- 
tree. 

Winter  grape  sour,  whedder  you  kin  reach  'im  or 
not. 

Mighty  po'  bee  dat  don't  make  mo*  honey  dan  he 
want. 

Kwishins  on  mule's  foots  done  gone  out  er  fashun. 

Pigs  dunno  w'at  a  pen's  fer. 

Possum's  tail  good  as  a  paw. 

Dogs  don't  bite  at  de  front  gate. 

Colt  in  de  barley-patch  kick  high. 

Jay-bird  don't  rob  his  own  nes'. 

Pullet  can't  roost  too  high  for  de  owl- 
Meat  fried  'fo'  day  won't  las'  twel  night. 

Stump  water  won't  kyo  de  gripes. 

De  howlin'  dog  know  w'at  he  sees. 


PLANTATION  PROVERBS  177 

Bline  hoss  don't  fall  w'en  he  follers  de  bit. 

Hongry  nigger  won't  w'ar  his  maul  out. 

Don't  fling  away  de  empty  wallet. 

Black-snake  know  de  way  ter  de  hin  nes'. 

Looks  won't  do  ter  split  rails  wid. 

Settin'  hens  don't  hanker  arter  fresh  aigs. 

Tater-vine  growin'  w'ile  you  sleep. 

Hit  take  two  birds  fer  to  make  a  nes'. 

Ef  you  bleedzd  ter  eat  dirt,  eat  clean  dirt. 

Tarrypin  walk  fast  'nuflF  fer  to  go  visitin'. 

Empty  smoke-house  makes  de  pullet  holler. 

Wen  coon  take  water  he  fixin'  fer  ter  fight. 

Corn  makes  mo'  at  de  mill  dan  it  does  in  de  crib. 

Good  luck  say:  "Op'n  yo'  mouf  en  shet  yo'  eyes." 

Nigger  dat  gets  hurt  wukkin  oughter  show  de 
skyars. 

Fiddlin'  nigger  say  hit's  long  ways  ter  de  dance. 

Rooster  makes  mo'  racket  dan  de  hin  w'at  lay  de 
aig. 

Meller  mush-million  hollers  at  you  fum  over  de 
fence. 

Nigger  wid  a  pocket-hanTccher  better  be  looked 
atter. 

Rain-crow  don't  sing  no  chune,  but  youk'n  'pen* 
on  'im. 

One-eyed  mule  can't  be  handled  on  de  bline  side. 

Moon  may  shine,  but  a  lightered  knot's  mighty 
handy. 


178 


PLANTATION  PROVERBS 


Licker  talks  mighty  loud  w'en  it  git  loose  fum  de 

)'ug- 

De  proudness  un  a  man  don't  count  w'en  his  head's 

cold. 

Hongry  rooster  don't  cackle  w'en  he  fine  a  wum. 
Some  niggers  mighty  smart,  but  dey  can't  drive  de 
pidgins  ter  roos'. 

You  may  know  de  way,  but  better  keep  yo'  eyes 
on  de  seven  stairs. 

All  de  buzzards  in  de  settlement  11  come  to  de 
gray  mule's  funerl. 

Youk'n  hide  de  fier,  but  w'at 
you  gwine  do  wid  de  smoke? 
Ter-morrow  may  be  de  car- 
ridge-driver's  day  for  ploughin*. 
Hit's  a  mighty  deaf  nigger 
dat  don't  year  de  dinner-ho'n. 
Hit  takes  a  bee  fer  ter  git  de 
sweetness  out'n  de  hoar-houn' 
„...    blossom. 

A 

* '  Ha'nts  don't  bodder  longer 
hones'  folks,  but  you  better  go 
'roun'  de  grave-yard. 

De  pig  dat  runs  off  wid  de 
year  er  corn  gits  little  mo'  dan 
de  cob. 

Sleepin'  in  de  fence-cornder  don't  fetch  Chrismus 
in  de  kitchen. 


I 


PLANTATION   PROVERBS  179 

De  spring-house  may  freeze,  but  de  niggers  11 
keep  de  shuck-pen  warm. 

Twix'  de  bug  en  de  bee-martin  'tain't  hard  ter  tell 
w'ich  gwineter  git  kotch. 

Don't  'sput  wid  de  squinch-owl.  Jam  de  shovel  in 
de  fier. 

You'd  see  mo'  er  de  mink  ef  he  know'd  whar  de 
yard  dog  sleeps. 

Troubles  is  seasonin'.  'Simmons  ain't  good  twel  dey 
'er  fros'-bit. 

Watch  out  w'en  you'er  gittin  all  you  want.  Fat' 
tenin'  hogs  ain't  in  luck. 


HIS  SONGS 


REVIVAL  HYMN 

OH,  whar  shill  we  go  w'en  de  great 

day  comes, 
Wid  de  blowin'  er  de  trumpits  en  de 

bangin'  er  de  drums? 

How  many  po'  sinnersll  be  kotched  out  late 
En  fine  no  latch  ter  de  golden  gate? 

No  use  fer  ter  wait  twel  ter-morrerl 
De  sun  musn't  set  on  yo'  sorrer, 
Sin's  ez  sharp  ez  a  bamboo-brier— 
Oh,  Lord!  fetch  de  mo'ners  up  higherl 

Wen  de  nashuns  er  de  earf  is  a  stan'in  all  aroun', 

Who's  a  gwineter  be  choosen  fer  ter  w'ar  de  glory- 
crown? 

Who's  a  gwine  fer  ter  stan'  stiff-kneed  en  bol'. 

En  answer  to  der  name  at  de  callin'  er  de  roll? 
You  better  come  now  ef  you  comin'— 
Ole  Satun  is  loose  en  a  bummin'— 
De  wheels  er  distruckshun  is  a  hummin'— 
Oh,  come  long,  sinner,  ef  you  comin'! 
183 


184  HIS   SONGS 

De  song  er  salvashun  is  a  mighty  sweet  song, 

En  de  Pairidise  win'  blow  fur  en  blow  strong, 

En  Aberham's  bosom,  hit's  saft  en  hit's  wide, 

En  right  dar's  de  place  whar  de  sinners  oughter  hide! 

Oh,  you  nee'nter  be  a  stoppin'  en  a  lookin'; 

Ef  you  fool  wid  ole  Satun  you'll  git  took  in; 

You'll  hang  on  de  aidge  en  get  shook  in, 

Ef  you  keep  on  a  stoppin'  en  a  lookin'. 

De  time  is  right  now,  en  dish  yer's  de  place- 
Let  de  sun  er  salvashun  shine  squar'  in  yo'  face; 
Fight  de  battles  er  de  Lord,  fight  soon  en  fight  lates 
En  you'll  allers  fine  a  latch  ter  de  golden  gate. 
No  use  fer  ter  wait  twel  ter-morrer, 
De  sun  musn't  set  on  yo'  sorrer— 
Sin's  ez  sharp  ez  a  bamboo-brier, 
Ax  de  Lord  fer  ter  fetch  you  up  higher! 


CAMP-MEETING  SONG  * 

OH,  de  worril  is  roun'  en  de  worril  is  wide- 
Lord!  'member  deze  chillun  in  de  mornin'— 


*  In  the  days  of  slavery,  the  religious  services  held  by  the 
negroes  who  accompanied  their  owners  to  the  camp-meetings  were 
marvels  of  earnestness  and  devotion. 


CAMP-MEFTING   SONG  185 

Hit's  a  mighty  long  ways  up  de  mountain  side, 
En  dey  ain't  no  place  fer  dem  sinners  fer  ter  hide, 
En  dey  ain't  no  place  whar  sin  kin  abide, 
Wen  de  Lord  shill  come  in  de  mornin'! 
Look  up  en  look  aroun', 
Fling  yo'  burden  on  de  groun', 
Hit's  a  gittin'  mighty  close  on  ter  mornin"! 
Smoove  away  sin's  frown- 
Retch  up  en  git  de  crown, 
Wat  de  Lord  will  fetch  in  de  mornin'! 


De  han'  er  ridem'shun,  hit's  hilt  out  ter  you-* 
Lord!  'member  dem  sinners  in  de  mornin'! 
Hit's  a  mighty  pashent  han',  but  de  days  is  but 
Wen  Satun,  he'll  come  a  demandin'  un  his  duef 
En  de  stiff-neck  sinners  11  be  smotin'  all  fru— 
Oh,  you  better  git  ready  fer  de  mornin'! 
Look  up  en  set  yo'  face 
Todes  de  green  hills  er  grace 
To'  de  sun  rises  up  in  de  mornin'— 
Oh,  you  better  change  yo'  base, 
Hits  yo'  soul's  las'  race 
Fer  de  glory  dat's  a  comin'  in  de  morninT 


De  farmer  gits  ready  w'en  de  lan's  all  plowed 

Fer  ter  sow  dem  seeds  in  de  mornin'— 
De  sperrit  may  be  puny  en  de  flesh  may  be  proud, 
But  you  better  cut  loose  fum  de  scoffin*  crowd, 


186  ms  SONGS 

En  jine  dese  Christuns  w'at's  a  cryin'  out  loud 
Fer  de  Lord  fer  ter  come  in  de  mornin'I 
Shout  loud  en  shout  long, 
Let  de  ekkoes  ans'er  strong, 
Wen  de  sun  rises  up  in  de  mornin'I 
Oh,  you  allers  will  be  wrong 
Twel  you  choose  ter  belong 
Ter  de  Marster  w'at's  a  comin'  in  de  mornin'I 


m 

CORN-SHUCKING  SONG 

OH,  de  fus  news  you  know  de  day  11  be  a  breakin'- 

(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Up  n  down  de  Bango!  » ) 
An'  de  fier  be  a  burnin'  en'  de  ash-cake  a  bakin', 

(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Up'n  down  de  Bango!) 
An'  de  henll  be  a  hollerin'  en  de  boss  11  be  a  wakin'- 

(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Up'n  down  de  Bango!) 
Better  git  up,  nigger,  en  give  yo'se'f  a  shakin'— 

(Hi  O,  Miss  Sindy  Ann!) 

Oh,  honey!  w'en  you  see  dem  ripe  stars  a  fallin'— 
(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Up'n  down  de  Bango!) 


*  So  far  as  I  know,  "Bango"  is  a  meaningless  term,  introduced 
on  account  of  its  sonorous  ruggedness. 


The  corn-shucking. 


CORN-SHUCKING  SONG  187 

Oh,  honey  I  w'en  you  year  de  rain-crow  a  callin'— 
(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Up'n  down  de  Bango!) 

Oh,  honey!  w'en  you  year  dat  red  calf  a  bawlin'— 
(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Upn  down  de  Bango!) 

Den  de  day  time's,  a  creepin'  en  a  crawlin'— 
( Hi  O,  Miss  Sindy  Ann!) 

Fer  de  los'  ell  en  yard  *  is  a  huntin'  f er  de  mornin', 

(Hi  O!  git  long!  go  Vay!) 
En  shell  ketch  up  widdus  'fo'  we  ever  git  dis  corn  in— 

(Oh,  go  Vay,  Sindy  Ann!) 

Oh,  honey!  w'en  you  year  dat  tin  horn  a  tootin'— 

(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Upn  down  de  Bango!) 
Oh,  honey,  w'en  you  year  de  squinch  owl  a  hootin'-^ 

(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Upn  down  de  Bango!) 
Oh,  honey!  w'en  you  year  dem  little  pigs  a  rootin'— 

(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Upn  down  de  Bango!) 
Right  den  she's  a  comin'  a  skippin'  en  a  scootin'— 

(HiO,  Miss  Sindy  Ann!) 

Oh,  honey,  w'en  you  year  dat  roan  mule  whicker— 
(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Up'n  down  de  Bango!) 

W'en  you  see  Mister  Moon  turnin'  pale  en  gittin' 

sicker— 
(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Up'n  down  de  Bango!) 

*  The  sword  and  belt  in  the  constellation  of  Orion. 


188  ms  SONGS 

Den  hit's  time  f  er  ter  handle  dat  corn  a  little  quicker— 
(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Up'n  down  de  Bango!) 

Ef  you  wanter  git  a  smell  er  old  Marster's  jug  er 

licker— 
(Hi  O,  Miss  Sindy  Ann!) 

Fer  de  los'  ell  en  yard  is  a  huntin'  fer  de  mornin' 

(HiO!  git  long!  go  way!) 
En  she'll  ketch  up  widdus  'fo'  we  ever  git  dis  corn  in— 

( Oh,  go  'way,  Sindy  Ann! ) 
You  niggers  'cross  dar!  you  better  stop  your  dancin'— 

(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Up'n  down  de  Bango!) 
No  use  fer  ter  come  a  flingin'  un  yo'  "sha'n'ts"  in— 

(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Up'n  down  de  Bango!) 
No  use  fer  ter  come  a  flingin*  un  yo'  "can't's"  in— 

(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Up'n  down  de  Bango!) 
Kaze  dey  ain't  no  time  fer  yo'  pattin'  ner  yo'  prancin'l 

( Hi  O,  Miss  Sindy  Ann! ) 

Mr.  Rabbit  see  de  Fox,  en  he  sass  um  en  jaws  um— 

(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Up'n  down  de  Bango!) 
Mr.  Fox  ketch  de  Rabbit,  en  he  scratch  um  en  he 
claws  um— 

(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Up'n  down  de  Bango!) 
En  he  tar  off  de  hide,  en  he  chaws  um  en  he  gnyaws 
urn— 

(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Up'n  down  de  Bango!) 
Same  like  gal  chawin'  sweet  gum  en  rozzum— 

(Hi  O,  Miss  Sindy  Ann!) 


CORN-SHUCKING  SONG  189 

Fer  de  los'  ell  en  yard  is  a  huntin'  f er  de  morniri' 

(Hi  O!  git  long!  go  way!) 
En  she'll  ketch  up  widdus  'fo'  we  ever  git  dis  com  in— 

( Oh,  go  'way,  Sindy  Ann! ) 

Oh,   work  on,   boys!    give  deze   shucks   a  mighty 
wringin'— 

(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Up'n  down  de  Bango!) 
To'  de  boss  come  aroun'  a  dangin'  en  a  dingm"— 

(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Upn  down  de  Bango!) 

Git  up  en  move  aroun'!  set  dem  big  han's  ter  swingin'-' 
(Hey  O!  Hi  O!  Upn  down  de  Bango!) 

Git  up'n  shout  loud!  let  de  w'ite  folks  year  you  singin'i 
(HiO,  Miss  Sindy  Ann!) 

Fer  de  los'  ell  en  yard  is  a  huntin'  fer  de  mornin* 

(Hi  O!  git  long!  go  'way!) 
En  shell  ketch  up  widdus  'f o'  we  ever  git  dis  corn  in, 

( Oh,  go  'way  Sindy  Ann! ) 


190  HIS  SONGS 

IV 

THE  PLOUGH-HANDS'  SONG 
(JASPER  CouNTY-1860. ) 

NIGGER  mighty  happy  w'en  he  layin'  by  co'n— 

Dat  sun's  a  slantin'; 
Nigger  mighty  happy  w'en  he  year  de  dinner-ho'n— 

Dat  sun's  a  slantin'; 
En  he  mo'  happy  still  w'en  de  night  draws  on— 

Dat  sun's  a  slantin'; 
Dat  sun's  a  slantin'  des  ez  sho's  you  bo'n! 

En  it's  rise  up,  Primus!  fetch  anudder  yell: 
Dat  ole  dun  cow's  des  a  shakin'  up  'er  bell, 
En  de  frogs  chunin'  up  'fo'  de  jew  done  fell: 
Good-night,  Mr.  Killdee!  I  wish  you  mighty  well! 
—Mr.  Killdee!  I  wish  you  mighty  well! 
—7  wish  you  mighty  well! 

De  co'n  '11  be  ready  'g'inst  dumplin  day— 

Dat  sun's  a  slantin'; 
But  nigger  gotter  watch,  en  stick,  en  stay— 

Dat  sun's  a  slantin'; 
Same  ez  de  bee-martin  watchin'  un  de  jay— 

Dat  sun's  a  slantin'; 
Dat  sun's  a  slantin'  en  a  slippin'  away! 

Den  it's  rise  up,  Primus!  en  gin  it  t'um  strong; 
De  cow's  gwine  home  wid  der  ding-dang-dong— 


CHRISTMAS   PLAY-SONG  191 

Sling  in  anudder  tetch  er  de  ole-time  song: 
Good-night,  Mr.  Whipperwill!  don't  stay  long! 
—Mr.  Whipperwill!  don't  stay  long! 
—Dont  stay  long! 


CHRISTMAS  PLAY-SONG 
(MYRICK  PLACE,  PUTNAM  COUNTY— 1858.) 

Hi  my  rinktum!     Black  gal  sweet, 

Same  like  goodies  w'at  de  w'ite  folks  eat; 

Ho  my  Riley!  don't  you  take'n  tell  'er  name, 

En  den  ef  sumpin'  happen  you  won't  ketch  de  blame; 

Hi  my  rinktum!  better  take'n  hide  yo'  plum; 

loree  don't  holler  eve'y  time  he  fine  a  wum. 

Den  it's  hi  my  rinktuml 
Don't  git  no  udder  man; 

En  it's  ho  my  Riley! 
Fetch  out  Miss  Dilsey  Ann! 

Ho  my  Riley!     Yaller  gal  fine; 

She  may  be  yone  but  she  oughter  be  mine! 

Hi  my  rinktum!     Lemme  git  by, 

En  see  w'at  she  mean  by  de  cut  er  dat  eye! 

Ho  my  Riley!  better  shet  dat  do'— 

De  w'ite  folks  '11  b'leeve  we  er  t'arin  up  de  flo'. 


192  HIS   SONGS 


Den  it's  ho  my  Rileyl 

Come  a  siftin'  up  ter  me! 

En  it's  hi  my  rinktum! 

Dis  de  way  ter  twis'  yo'  knee! 


Hi  my  rinktum!     Ain't  de  eas'  gittin'  red? 

De  squinch  owl  shiver  like  he  wanter  go  ter  bed; 

Ho  my  Riley!  but  de  gals  en  de  boys, 

Des  now  gittin'  so  dey  kin  sorter  make  a  noise. 

Hi  my  rinktum!  let  de  yaller  gal  'lone; 

Niggers  don't  hanker  arter  sody  in  de  pone. 

Den  it's  hi  my  rinktum! 
Better  try  anudder  plan; 

An'  it's  ho  my  Riley! 

Trot  out  Miss  Dilsey  Amil 


Ho  my  Riley!     In  de  happy  Chrismus'  time 
De  niggers  shake  der  cloze  a  huntin'  fer  a  dime 
Hi  my  rinktum!     En  den  dey  shake  der  feet, 
En  greaze  derse'f  wid  de  good  ham  meat. 
Ho  my  Riley!  dey  eat  en  dey  cram, 
En  bimeby  ole  Miss  '11  be  a  sendin'  out  de  dram. 

Den  it's  ho  my  Riley! 
You  hear  dat,  Sam! 

En  it's  hi  my  rinktum! 
Be  a  sendin'  out  de  draml 


PLANTATION   PLAY-SONG  193 


VI 

PLANTATION  PLAY-SONG 
(PUTNAM  COUNTY— 1856. ) 

HIT'S  a  gittin'  mighty  late,  v/en  de  Guinny-hins 

squall, 
En  you  better  dance  now,  ef  you  gwineter  dance  a 

tall, 
Fer  by  dis  time  ter-morrer  night  you  can't  hardly 

crawl, 

Kaze  you'll  hatter 
take  de  hoe  ag'in 
en  likewise  de 
maul— 

Don't  you  hear  dat 
bay  colt  a  kickin' 
in  his  stall? 
Stop  yo*  humpin'  up 
yo'  sho'lders— 

Dat'll  never  do! 
Hop  light,  ladies, 

Oh,  Miss  Lool 
Hit  takes  a  heap  er  scrougin' 

Fer  ter  git  you  thoo— 
Hop  light,  ladies, 
Oh,  Miss  Loo! 


194  HIS   SONGS 

Ef  you  niggers   don't  watch,  you'll  sing  anudder 

chime, 
Fer  de  sun'll  rise'n  ketch  you  ef  you  don't  be  mighty 

soon; 

En  de  stars  is  gittin'  paler,  en  de  ole  gray  coon 
Is  a  settin*  in  de  grape-vine  a  watchin'  f er  de  moon. 
Wen  a  feller  comes  a  knockin' 

Des  holler— Oh,  shoo! 
Hop  light,  ladies, 
Oh,  Miss  Lool 
Oh,  swing  dat  yaller  gal! 

Do,  boys,  do! 
Hop  light,  ladies, 
Oh,  Miss  Loo! 

Oh,  tu'n  me  loose!  Lemme  'lone!  Go  way,  now! 
Wat  you  speck  I  come  a  dancin'  fer  ef  I  dunno  how? 
Deze  de  ve'y  kinder  footses  w'at  kicks  up  a  row; 
Can't  you  jump  inter  de  middle  en  make  yo'  gal  a 
bow? 

Look  at  dat  merlatter  man 

A  follerin'  up  Sue; 
Hop  light,  ladies, 

Oh,  Miss  Loo! 
De  boys  ain't  a  gwine 

Wen  you  cry  boo  Inoo— 
Hop  light,  ladies, 
Oh,  Miss  Loo! 


TRANSCRIPTIONS  195 


vn 

TRANSCRIPTIONS  * 
1.  A  PLANTATION  CHANT 

HIT'S  eighteen  hunder'd  forty-en-fo', 
Christ  done  open  dat  HeVmly  do'— 

An'  I  don't  wanter  stay  yer  no  longer; 
Hit's  eighteen  hunder'd  forty-en-five, 
Christ  done  made  dat  dead  man  alive— 
An'  I  don't  wanter  stay  yer  no  longer. 
You  ax  me  ter  run  home, 

Little  childun— 

Run  home,  dat  sun  done  roll— 
An'  I  don't  wanter  stay  yer  no  longer. 


Hit's  eighteen  hunder'd  forty-en-six, 
Christ  is  got  us  a  place  done  fix— 

An'  I  don't  wanter  stay  yer  no  longer; 
Hit's  eighteen  hunder'd  forty-en-sev'm 
Christ  done  sot  a  table  in  Hev'm— 

An'  I  don't  wanter  stay  yer  no  longer. 


*  If  these  are  adaptations  from  songs  the  negroes  have  caught 
from  the  whites,  their  origin  is  very  remote.  I  have  transcribed 
them  literally,  and  I  regard  them  as  in  the  highest  degree  char 
acteristic. 


196  ms  SONGS 

You  ax  me  ter  run  home, 

Little  childun— 
Run  home,  dat  sun  done  roll— 

An'  I  don't  wanter  stay  yer  no  longer. 

Hit's  eighteen  hunder'd  forty-en-eight, 
Christ  done  make  dat  crooked  way  straight— 

An*  I  don't  wanter  stay  yer  no  longer; 
Hit's  eighteen  hunder'd  forty-en-nine, 
Christ  done  tu'n  dat  water  inter  wine— 
An'  I  don't  wanter  stay  yer  no  longer. 
You  ax  me  ter  run  home, 

Little  childun— 
Run  home,  dat  sun  done  roll— 

An'  I  don't  wanter  stay  yer  no  longer 

Hit's  eighteen  hunder'd  forty-en-ten, 
Christ  is  de  mo'ner's  onliest  fr'en'— 

An'  I  don't  wanter  stay  yer  no  longer; 
Hit's  eighteen  hunder'd  forty-en-'lev'm, 
Christ'll  be  at  de  do'  w'en  we  all  git  ter  Hev'm— 
An'  I  don't  wanter  stay  yer  no  longer. 
You  ax  me  ter  run  home, 

Little  childun— 
Run  home,  dat  sun  done  roll- 
Ail'  I  don't  wanter  stay  yer  no  longer. 


TRANSCRIPTIONS  197 

2.  A  PLANTATION 
SERENADE 

DE  ole  bee  make  de  honey 
comb, 
De    young    bee    make    de 

honey, 
De  niggers  make  de  cotton  en 

co'n, 

En   de   w'ite   folks    gits    de 
money. 

De  raccoon  he's  a  cu'us  man, 

He  never  walk  twel  dark, 
En  nuthin'  never  'sturbs  his  mine, 

Twel  he  hear  ole  Bringer  bark. 

De  raccoon  totes  a  bushy  tail, 

De  'possum  totes  no  ha'r, 
Mr.  Rabbit,  he  come  skippin'  by, 

He  ain't  got  none  ter  spar'. 

Monday  mornin'  break  er  day, 

W'ite  folks  got  me  gwine, 
But  Sat'dy  night,  w'en  de  sun  goes  down 

Dat  yaller  gal's  in  my  mine. 

Fifteen  poun'  er  meat  a  week, 

W'isky  fer  ter  sell, 
Oh,  how  can  a  young  man  stay  at  home, 

Dem  gals  dey  look  so  well? 


198  ms  SONGS 

Met  a  'possum  in  de  road- 
Brer  'Possum,  whar  you  gwine? 

I  thank  my  stars,  I  bless  my  life, 
I'm  a  huntin  fer  de  muscadine. 


vni 
THE  BIG  BETHEL  CHURCH 

DE  Big  Bethel  chu'ch!  de  Big  Bethel  chu'ch! 

Done  put  ole  Satun  behine  um; 
Ef  a  sinner  git  loose  fum  enny  udder  chu'ch, 

De  Big  Bethel  chu'ch  will  fine  um! 

Hit's  good  ter  be  dere,  en  it's  sweet  ter  be  dere, 

Wid  de  sisterin'  all  aroun'  you— 
A  shakin'  dem  shackles  er  mussy  en'  love 

Wharwid  de  Lord  is  boun'  you. 

Hit's  sweet  ter  be  dere  en  lissen  ter  de  hymes, 

En  hear  dem  mo'ners  a  shoutin'— 
Dey  done  reach  de  place  whar  der  ain't  no  room 

Fer  enny  mo'  weepin'  en  doubtin*. 

Hit's  good  ter  be  dere  w'en  de  sinners  all  jine 

Wid  de  brudderin  in  dere  singin', 
En  it  look  like  Gaberl  gwine  ter  rack  up  en  blow 

En  set  dem  heav'm  bells  ter  ringin'I 


TIME  GOES   BY  TURNS  199 

Oh,  de  Big  Bethel  chu'ch!  de  Big  Bethel  chu'ch, 

Done  put  ole  Satun  behine  um; 
Ef  a  sinner  git  loose  fum  enny  udder  chu'ch 

De  Big  Bethel  chu'ch  will  fine  uml 


IX 
TIME  GOES  BY  TURNS 

DAR'S  a  pow'ful  rassle  'twix  de  Good  en  de  Bad, 
En  de  Bad's  got  de  ail-under  holt; 

En  w'en  de  wuss  come,  she  come  i'on-clad, 
En  you  hatter  hole  yo'  bref  fer  de  jolt. 

But  des  todes  de  las'  Good  gits  de  knee-lock, 
En  dey  draps  ter  de  groun'— ker  flop! 

Good  had  de  inturn,  en  he  stan'  like  a  rock, 
En  he  bleedzd  fer  ter  be  on  top. 

De  dry  wedder  breaks  wid  a  big  thunder-clap, 
Fer  dey  ain't  no  drout'  w'at  kin  las', 

But  de  seasons  w'at  whoops  up  de  cotton  crap, 
Likewise  dey  freshens  up  de  grass. 

De  rain  fall  so  saf  in  de  long  dark  night, 
Twel  you  hatter  hole  yo'  han'  fer  a  sign, 

But  de  drizzle  w'at  sets  de  tater-slips  right 
Is  de  makin'  er  de  May-pop  vine. 


200 


HIS   SONGS 


In  de  mellerest  groun'  de  clay  root'll  ketcb 
En  hole  ter  de  tongue  er  de  plow, 

En  a  pine-pole  gate  at  de  gyardin-patch 
Never'll  keep  out  de  ole  brindle  cow. 

One  en  all  on  us  knows  who's  a  pullin'  at  de  bits 
Like  de  lead-mule  dat  g'ides  by  de  rein, 

En  yit,  somehow  er  nudder,  de  bestest  un  us  gits 
Mighty  sick  er  de  tuggin'  at  de  chain. 

Hump  yo'se'f  ter  de  load  en  fergit  de  distress, 

En  dem  w'at  Stan's  by  ter  scoff, 
Fer  de  harder  de  pullin',  de  longer  de  res', 

En  de  bigger  de  feed  in  de  troff. 


A  STORY  OF  THE  WAB 


J> 


A  STORY  OF  THE  WAR 

WHEN  Miss  Theodosia  Huntingdon,  of  Burlington, 
Vermont,  concluded  to  come  South  in  1870,  she  was 
moved  by  three  considerations.  In  the  first  place,  her 
brother,  John  Huntingdon,  had  become  a  citizen  of 
Georgia— having  astonished  his  acquaintances  by 
marrying  a  young  lady,  the  male  memb'ers  of  whose 
family  had  achieved  considerable  distinction  in  the 
Confederate  army;  in  the  second  place,  she  was 
anxious  to  explore  a  region  which  she  almost  uncon 
sciously  pictured  to  herself  as  remote  and  semi- 

203 


204  A   STORY   OF  THE  WAR 

barbarous;  and,  in  the  third  place,  her  friends  had 
persuaded  her  that  to  some  extent  she  was  an  invalid. 
It  was  in  vain  that  she  argued  with  herself  as  to  the 
propriety  of  undertaking  the  journey  alone  and  un 
protected,  and  she  finally  put  an  end  to  inward  and 
outward  doubts  by  informing  herself  and  her  friends, 
including  John  Huntingdon,  her  brother,  who  was 
practicing  law  in  Atlanta,  that  she  had  decided  to 
visit  the  South. 

When,  therefore,  on  the  12th  of  October,  1870- 
the  date  is  duly  recorded  in  one  of  Miss  Theodosia's 
letters— she  alighted  from  the  cars  in  Atlanta,  in  the 
midst  of  a  great  crowd,  she  fully  expected  to  find  her 
brother  waiting  to  receive  her.  The  bells  of  several 
locomotives  were  ringing,  a  number  of  trains  were 
moving  in  and  out,  and  the  porters  and  baggage-men 
were  screaming  and  bawling  to  such  an  extent  that 
for  several  moments  Miss  Huntingdon  was  consider 
ably  confused;  so  much  so  that  she  paused  in  the 
hope  that  her  brother  would  suddenly  appear  and 
rescue  her  from  the  smoke,  and  dust,  and  din.  At 
that  moment  some  one  touched  her  on  the  arm,  and 
she  heard  a  strong,  half-confident,  half-apologetic 
voice  exclaim: 

"Ain't  dish  yer  Miss  Doshy?" 

Turning,  Miss  Theodosia  saw  at  her  side  a  tall, 
gray-haired  negro.  Elaborating  the  incident  afterward 
to  her  friends,  she  was  pleased  to  say  that  the  appear- 


A  STORY  OF  THE  WAR  205 

ance  of  the  old  man  was  somewhat  picturesque.  He 
stood  towering  above  her,  his  hat  in  one  hand,  a  car 
riage-whip  in  the  other,  and  an  expectant  smile  light 
ing  up  his  rugged  face.  She  remembered  a  name  her 
brother  had  often  used  in  his  letters,  and,  with  a 
woman's  tact,  she  held  out  her  hand,  and  said: 

"Is  this  Uncle  Remus?" 

"Law,  Miss  Doshy!  how  you  know  de  ole  nigger? 
I  know'd  you  by  de  faver;  but  how  you  know  me?" 
And  then,  without  waiting  for  a  reply:  "Miss  Sally, 
she  sick  in  bed,  en  Mars  John,  he  bleedzd  ter  go  in  de 
country,  en  dey  tuck'n  sont  me.  I  know'd  you  de 
minnit  I  laid  eyes  on  you.  Time  I  seed  you,  I  say  ter 
myse'f,  1  lay  dar's  Miss  Doshy/  en,  sho  miff,  dar 
you  wuz.  You  ain't  gun  up  yo'  checks,  is  you?  Kaze 
I'll  git  de  trunk  sont  up  by  de  'spress  waggin." 

The  next  moment  Uncle  Remus  was  elbowing  his 
way  unceremoniously  through  the  crowd,  and  in  a 
very  short  time,  seated  in  the  carriage  driven  by  the 
old  man,  Miss  Huntingdon  was  whirling  through  the 
streets  of  Atlanta  in  the  direction  of  her  brother's 
home.  She  took  advantage  of  the  opportunity  to  study 
the  old  negro's  face  closely,  her  natural  curiosity  con^ 
siderably  sharpened  by  a  knowledge  of  the  fact  thai 
Uncle  Remus  had  played  an  important  part  in  her 
brother's  history.  The  result  of  her  observation  must 
have  been  satisfactory,  for  presently  she  laughed,  and 
said: 


206  A  STORY  OF  THE  WAR 

"Uncle  Remus,  you  haven't  told  me  how  you  knew 
me  in  that  great  crowd." 

The  old  man  chuckled,  and  gave  the  horses  a  gentle 
rap  with  the  whip. 

"Who?  Me!  I  know'd  you  by  de  faver.  Dat  boy  er 
Mars  John's  is  de  ve'y  spit  en  immij  un  you.  I'd  a 
know'd  you  in  New  'Leens,  let  'lone  down  dar  in  de 
kyar-shed." 

This  was  Miss  Theodosia's  introduction  to  Uncle 
Remus.  One  Sunday  afternoon,  a  few  weeks  after  her 
arrival,  the  family  were  assembled  in  the  piazza  en 
joying  the  mild  weather.  Mr.  Huntingdon  was  read 
ing  a  newspaper;  his  wife  was  crooning  softly  as  she 
rocked  the  baby  to  sleep;  and  the  little  boy  was  en 
deavoring  to  show  his  Aunt  Dosia  the  outlines  of 
Kenesaw  Mountain  through  the  purple  haze  that 
hung  like  a  wonderfully  fashioned  curtain  in  the  sky 
and  almost  obliterated  the  horizon.  While  they  were 
thus  engaged,  Uncle  Remus  came  around  the  corner 
of  the  house,  talking  to  himself. 

"Dey  er  too  lazy  ter  wuk,"  he  was  saying,  "en  dey 
specks  hones'  fokes  fer  ter  stan'  up  en  s'port  um.  I'm 
gwine  down  ter  Putmon  County  whar  Mars  Jeems  is 
— dat's  w'at  I'm  agwine  ter  do." 

"What's  the  matter  now,  Uncle  Remus?"  inquired 
Mr.  Huntingdon,  folding  up  his  newspaper. 

"Nuthin'  'tall,  Mars  John,  'ceppin  deze  yer  sun 
shine  niggers.  Dey  begs  my  terbacker,  en  borrys  my 


A  STORY  OF  THE  WAR  207 

tools,  en  steals  my  vittles,  en  hit's  done  come  ter  dat 
pass  dat  I  gotter  pack  up  en  go.  I'm  agwine  down  ter 
Putmon,  dat's  w'at." 

Uncle  Remus  was  accustomed  to  make  this  threat 
several  times  a  day,  but  upon  this  occasion  it  seemed 
to  remind  Mr.  Huntingdon  of  something. 

"Very  well,"  he  said,  "I'll  come  around  and  help 
you  pack  up,  but  before  you  go  I  want  you  to  tell 
Sister  here  how  you  went  to  war  and  fought  for  the 
Union.— Remus  was  a  famous  warrior,"  he  continued, 
turning  to  Miss  Theodosia;  "he  volunteered  for  one 
day,  and  commanded  an  army  of  one.  You  know  the 
story,  but  you  have  never  heard  Remus's  version." 

Uncle  Remus  shuffled  around  in  an  awkward,  em 
barrassed  way,  scratched  his  head,  and  looked  un 
comfortable. 

"Miss  Doshy  ain't  got  no  time  fer  ter  set  dar  an 
year  de  ole  nigger  run  on." 

"Oh,  yes,  I  have,  Uncle  Remus!"  exclaimed  the 
young  lady;  "plenty  of  time." 

The  upshot  of  it  was  that,  after  many  ridiculous 
protests,  Uncle  Remus  sat  down  on  the  steps,  and 
proceeded  to  tell  his  story  of  the  war.  Miss  Theodosia 
listened  with  great  interest,  but  throughout  it  all  she 
observed— and  she  was  painfully  conscious  of  the  fact, 
as  she  afterward  admitted— that  Uncle  Remus  spoke 
from  the  standpoint  of  a  Southerner,  and  with  the  air 


208  A  STORY  OF  THE  WAR 

of  one  who  expected  his  hearers  to  thoroughly  syrrv 
pathize  with  him. 

"Co'se,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  addressing  himself  to 
Miss  Theodosia,  "you  ain't  bin  to  Putmon,  en  you 
dunner  whar  de  Brad  Slaughter  place  en  Harmony 
Grove  is,  but  Mars  John  en  Miss  Sally,  dey  bin  dar 
a  time  er  two,  en  dey  knows  how  de  Ian'  lays.  Well, 
den,  it  'uz  right  'long  in  dere  whar  Mars  Jeems  lived, 
en  whar  he  live  now.  When  de  war  come  'long  he 
wuz  livin'  dere  longer  Ole  Miss  en  Miss  Sally.  Ole 
Miss  'uz  his  ma,  en  Miss  Sally  dar  'uz  his  sister.  De 
war  come  des  like  I  tell  you,  en  marters  sorter  rock 
along  same  like  dey  allers  did.  Hit  didn't  strike  me 
dat  dey  wuz  enny  war  gwine  on,  en  ef  I  hadn't  sorter 
miss  de  nabers,  en  seed  fokes  gwine  outer  de  way  fer 
ter  ax  de  news,  I'd  a  'lowed  ter  myse'f  dat  de  war  wuz 
'way  off  'mong  some  yuther  country.  But  all  dis  time 
de  fuss  wuz  gwine  on,  en  Mars  Jeems,  he  wuz  des 
eat  chin'  fer  ter  put  in.  Ole  Miss  en  Miss  Sally,  dey 
tuck  on  so  he  didn't  git  off  de  fus'  year,  but  bimeby 
news  come  down  dat  times  wuz  gittin'  putty  hot,  en 
Mars  Jeems  he  got  up,  he  did,  en  say  he  gotter  go, 
en  go  he  did.  He  got  a  overseer  fer  ter  look  atter 
de  place,  en  he  went  en  jined  de  army.  En  he  'uz  a 
fighter,  too,  mon,  Mars  Jeems  wuz.  Many's  en  many's 
de  time,"  continued  the  old  man,  reflectively,  "dat  I 
hatter  take'n  bresh  dat  boy  on  accounter  his  'buzin' 
en  beatin'  dem  vuther  bovs.  He  went  off  dar  fer  ter 


A  STORY  OF  THE  WAR  209 

fight,  en  he  fit.  Ole  Miss  useter  call  me  up  Sunday 
en  read  w'at  de  papers  say  Txmt  Mars  Jeems,  en  it 
hope  'er  up  mightly.  I  kin  see  'er  des  like  it  'uz 
yistiddy. 

"'Remus,'  sez  she,  'dish  yer's  w'at  de  papers  say 
Tbout  my  baby,'  en  den  she'd  read  out  twel  she 
couldn't  read  fer  cryin'.  Hit  went  on  dis  way  year  in 
en  year  out,  en  dem  wuz  lonesome  times,  sho's  you 
bawn,  Miss  Doshy— lonesome  times,  sho.  Hit  got 
hotter  en  hotter  in  de  war,  en  lonesomer  en  mo*  lone- 
somer  at  home,  en  bimeby  'long  come  de  conscrip" 
man,  en  he  des  everlas'nly  scoop  up  Mars  Jeems's 
overseer.  Wen  dis  come  'bout,  ole  Miss,  she  sont 
atter  me  en  say,  sez  she: 

"  'Remus,  I  ain't  got  nobody  fer  ter  look  arter  de 
place  but  you,'  sez  she,  en  den  I  up'n  say,  sez  I: 

"  'Mistiss,  you  kin  des  'pen'  on  de  ole  nigger.' 

"I  wuz  ole  den,  Miss  Doshy— let  lone  w'at  I  is 
now;  en  you  better  b'leeve  I  bossed  dem  han's.  I  had 
dem  niggers  up  en  in  de  fiel'  long  'fo'  day,  en  de  way 
dey  did  wuk  wuz  a  caution.  Ef  dey  didn't  earnt  der 
vittles  dat  season  den  I  ain't  name  Remus.  But  dey 
wuz  tuk  keer  un.  Dey  had  plenty  er  cloze  en  plenty 
er  grub,  en  dey  wuz  de  fattes'  niggers  in  de  settle 
ment. 

"Bimeby  one  day,  Ole  Miss,  she  call  me  up  en  say 
de  Yankees  done  gone  en  tuck  Atlanty— dish  yer  ve'y 
town;  den  present'y  I  year  dey  wuz  a  marchin'  on 


210  A  STORY  OF  THE  WAR 

down  todes  Putmon,  en,  lo  en  beholes!  one  day,  de 
fus  news  I  know'd,  Mars  Jeems  he  rid  up  wid  a  whole 
gang  er  men.  He  des  stop  long  nuff  fer  ter  change 
hosses  en  snatch  a  mouffle  er  sump'n  ter  eat,  but  'fo* 
he  rid  off,  he  call  me  up  en  say,  sez  he: 

"'Daddy -all  Ole  Miss's  chilluns  call  me  daddy 
—'Daddy,'  he  say,  "pears  like  dere's  gwineter  be 
mighty  rough  times  'roun'  yer.  De  Yankees,  dey  er 
done  got  ter  Madison  en  Mounticellar,  en  'twon't  be 
many  days  'fo'  dey  er  down  yer.  'Tain't  likely  dey '11 
pester  mother  ner  sister;  but,  daddy,  ef  de  wus  come 
ter  de  wus,  I  speck  you  ter  take  keer  un  um,'  sezee. 

"Den  I  say,  sez  I:  'How  long  you  bin  knowin' 
me,  Mars  Jeems?'  sez  I. 

"  'Sence  I  wuz  a  baby,'  sezee. 

"Well,  den,  Mars  Jeems,'  sez  I,  'you  know'd 
'twa'nt  no  use  fer  ter  ax  me  ter  take  keer  Ole  Miss  en 
Miss  Sally.' 

"Den  he  tuck'n  squoze  my  han'  en  jump  on  de 
filly  I  bin  savin'  fer  'im,  en  rid  off.  One  time  he  tu'n 
'roun'  en  look  like  he  wanter  say  sump'n',  but  he  des 
waf  his  han'— so— en  gallop  on.  I  know'd  den  dat 
trouble  wuz  brewin'.  Nigger  dat  knows  he's  gwineter 
git  thumped  kin  sorter  fix  hisse'f,  en  I  tuck'n  fix  up 
like  de  war  wuz  gwineter  come  right  in  at  de  front 
gate.  I  tuck'n  got  all  de  cattle  en  hosses  tergedder  en 
driv'  um  ter  de  fo'-mile  place,  en  I  tuck  all  de  corn  en 
fodder  en  w'eat,  en  put  um  in  a  crib  out  dar  in  de 


A  STORY  OF  THE  WAR  211 

woods;  en  I  bilt  me  a  pen  in  de  swamp,  en  dar  I  put 
de  hogs.  Den,  w'en  I  fix  all  dis,  I  put  on  my  Sunday 
cloze  en  groun*  my  axe.  Two  whole  days  I  groun'  dat 
axe.  De  grinestone  wuz  in  sight  er  de  gate  en  close 
ter  de  big  'ouse,  en  dar  I  tuck  my  stan*. 

"Bimeby  one  day,  yer  come  de  Yankees.  Two  un 
um  come  fus,  en  den  de  whole  face  er  de  yeath 
swawm'd  wid  um.  De  fus  glimpse  I  kotch  un  um, 
I  tuck  my  axe  en  march  inter  Ole  Miss  settin'-room. 
She  done  had  de  sidebode  move  in  dar,  en  I  wish  I 
may  drap  ef  'twuzn't  fa'rly  blazin'  wid  silver— silver 
cups  en  silver  sassers,  silver  plates  en  silver  dishes, 
silver  mugs  en  silver  pitchers.  Look  like  ter  me  dey 
wuz  fixin'  fer  a  weddin'.  Dar  sot  Ole  Miss  des  ez 
prim  en  ez  proud  ez  ef  she  own  de  whole  county, 
Dis  kinder  hope  me  up,  kaze  I  done  seed  Ole  Miss 
look  dat  away  once  befo'  w'en  de  overseer  struck  me 
in  de  face  wid  a  w'ip.  I  sot  down  by  de  fier  wid  my 
axe  'tween  my  knees.  Dar  we  sot  w'iles  de  Yankees 
ransack  de  place.  Miss  Sally,  dar,  she  got  sorter  rest 
less,  but  Ole  Miss  didn't  skasely  bat  'er  eyes.  Bimeby3 
we  hear  steps  on  de  peazzer,  en  yer  come  a  couple 
er  young  fellers  wid  strops  on  der  shoulders,  en  der 
sodes  a  draggin'  on  de  flo',  en  der  spurrers  a  rattlin*. 
I  won't  say  I  wuz  skeer'd,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  as 
though  endeavoring  to  recall  something  he  failed  to 
remember,  "I  won't  say  I  wuz  skeer'd,  kaze  I  wuz- 
ent;  but  I  wuz  took'n  wid  a  mighty  funny  feelin' 


212  A  STORY  OF  THE  WAB 

in  de  naberhood  er  de  gizzard.  Dey  wuz  mighty 
perlite,  dem  young  chaps  wuz;  but  Ole  Miss,  she 
never  tu'n  'er  head,  en  Miss  Sally,  she  look  straight 
at  de  fier.  Bimeby  one  un  um  see  me,  en  he  say, 
sezee: 

"  'Hello,  ole  man,  w'at  you  doin'  in  yer?'  sezee. 

'  Well,  boss/  sez  I,  'I  bin  cuttin'  some  wood  fer 
Ole  Miss,  en  I  des  stop  fer  ter  worn  my  han's  a  little,' 
sez  I. 

"  'Hit  is  cole,  dat's  a  fack,'  sezee. 

"Wid  dat  I  got  up  en  tuck  my  stan'  behime  Ole 
Miss  en  Miss  Sally,  en  de  man  w'at  speak,  he  went  up 
en  worn  his  han's.  Fus  thing  you  know,  he  raise  up 
sudden,  en  say,  sezee: 

'  Wat  dat  on  yo'  axe?' 

"  'Dat's  de  fier  shinin'  on  it,'  sez  I. 

"'Hit  look  like  blood,'  sezee,  en  den  he  laft. 

"But,  bless  yo'  soul,  dat  man  wouldn't  never  laft 
dat  day  ef  he'd  know'd  de  wukkins  er  Remus's  mine. 
But  dey  didn't  bodder  nobody  ner  tech  nuthin',  en 
bimeby  dey  put  out.  Well,  de  Yankees,  dey  kep' 
passin*  all  de  mawnin'  en  it  look  like  ter  me  dey  wua 
a  string  un  um  ten  mile  long.  Den  dey  commence 
gittin'  thinner  en  thinner,  en  den  atter  w'ile  we  heav 
skummishin'  in  de  naberhood  er  Armer's  fe'y,  en  Ole 
Miss  'low  how  dat  wuz  Wheeler's  men  makin'  persoot. 
Mars  Jeems  wuz  wid  dem  Wheeler  fellers,  en  I 


"En  wadder  you  speck  I  see?' 


A   STORY  OF  THE  WAR  213 

know'd  ef  dey  wuz  dat  close  I  wa'n't  doin*  no  good 
settin'  'roun'  de  house  toas'n  my  shins  at  de  fier,  so  I 
des  tuck  Mars  Jeems's  rifle  fum  behime  de  do*  en  put 
out  ter  look  atter  my  stock. 

"Seem  like  I  ain  t  never  see  no  raw  day  like  dat, 
needer  befo'  ner  ssnce.  Dey  wa'n't  no  rain,  but  de 
wet  des  sifted  down;  mighty  raw  day.  De  leaves  on 
de  groun'  'uz  so  wet  dey  don't  make  no  fuss,  en  I  got 
in  de  woods,  en  w'enever  I  year  de  Yankees  gwine 
by,  I  des  stop  in  my  tracks  en  let  un  pass.  I  wuz 
stan'in'  dat  away  in  de  aidge  er  de  woods  lookin'  out 
'cross  a  clearin',  w'en—piff!—out  come  a  little  bunch 
er  blue  smoke  fum  de  top  er  wunner  dem  big  lone- 
some-lookin'  pines,  en  den— powl 

"Sez  I  ter  myse'f,  sez  I:  'Honey,  youer  right  on 
my  route,  en  I'll  des  see  w'at  kinder  bird  you  got 
roostin'  in  you,'  en  w'iles  I  wuz  a  lookin'  out  bus'  de 
smoke— piff!  en  den— bang!  Wid  dat  I  des  drapt  back 
inter  de  woods,  en  sorter  skeerted  'roun'  so's  ter  git 
de  tree  'twixt'  me  en  de  road.  I  slid  up  putty  close, 
en  wadder  you  speck  I  see?  Des  ez  sho's  youer  settin* 
dar  lissenin'  dey  wuz  a  live  Yankee  up  dar  in  dat 
tree,  en  he  wuz  a  loadin'  en  a  shootin'  at  de  boys  dez 
ez  cool  es  a  cowcumber  in  de  jew,  en  he  had  his  hoss 
hitch  out  in  de  bushes,  kaze  I  year  de  creetur  tromp- 
lin'  'roun'.  He  had  a  spy-glass  up  dar,  en  w'iles  I  wu? 
a  watchin'  un  'im,  he  raise  'er  up  en  look  thoo  "er,  en 


214  A  STORY  OF  THE  WAR 

den  he  lay  ?er  down  en  fix  his  gun  fer  ter  shoot.  I  had 
good  eyes  in  dem  days,  ef  I  ain't  got  um  now,  en 
'way  up  de  big  road  I  see  Mars  Jeems  a  comin'.  Hit 
wuz  too  fur  fer  ter  see  his  face,  but  I  know'd  'im  by 
de  filly  w'at  I  raise  fer  'im,  en  she  wuz  a  prancin' 
like  a  school-gal.  I  know'd  dat  man  wuz  gwineter 
shoot  Mars  Jeems  ef  he  could,  en  dat  wuz  mo'n  I 
could  stan'.  Manys  en  manys  de  time  dat  I  nuss  dat 
boy,  en  hilt  'im  in  dese  arms,  en  toted  'im  on  dis 
back,  en  w'en  I  see  dat  Yankee  lay  dat  gun  'cross  a 
lim'  en  take  aim  at  Mars  Jeems  I  up  wid  my  ole  rifle, 
en  shet  my  eyes  en  let  de  man  have  all  she  had." 

"Do  you  mean  to  say,"  exclaimed  Miss  Theodosia, 
indignantly,  "that  you  shot  the  Union  soldier,  when 
you  knew  he  was  fighting  for  your  freedom?" 

"Co'se,  I  know  all  about  dat,"  responded  Uncle 
Remus,  "en  it  sorter  made  cole  chills  run  up  my 
back;  but  w'en  I  see  dat  man  take  aim,  en  Mars 
Jeems  gwine  home  ter  Ole  Miss  en  Miss  Sally,  I  des 
disremembered  all  'bout  freedom  en  lammed  aloose. 
En  den  atter  dat,  me  en  Miss  Sally  tuck  en  nuss  de 
man  right  straight  along.  He  los'  one  arm  in  dat  tree 
bizness,  but  me  en  Miss  Sally  we  nuss  'im  en  we  nuss 
'im  twel  he  done  got  well.  Des  'bout  dat  time  I  quit 
nuss'n  'im,  but  Miss  Sally  she  kep'  on.  She  kep'  on," 
continued  Uncle  Remus,  pointing  to  Mr.  Huntingdon, 
"en  now  dar  he  is." 


A   STORY  OF   THE  WAR  215 

"But  you  cost  him  an  arm/'  exclaimed  Miss  Theo- 
dosia. 

"I  gin  'im  dem,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  pointing  to 
Mrs.  Huntingdon,  "en  I  gin  'im  deze"— holding  up 
his  own  brawny  arms.  "En  ef  dem  ain't  miff  fer 
enny  man  den  I  done  los'  de  way." 


HIS  SAYINGS 


JEEMS  ROBERTSON'S  LAST  ILLNESS 

A  JONESBORO  negro,  while  waiting  for  the  train  to 
go  out,  met  up  with  Uncle  Remus.  After  the  usual 
"time  of  day"  had  been  passed  between  the  two,  the 
former  inquired  about  an  acquaintance. 

"How's  Jeems  Rober'son?"  he  asked. 

"Ain't  you  year  'bout  Jim?"  asked  Uncle  Remus. 

"Dat  I  ain't,"  responded 
the  other;  "I  ain't  hear  talk 
er  Jem  sence  he  cut  loose 
fum  de  chain-gang.  Dat  w'at 
make  I  ax.  He  ain't  down 
wid  de  biliousness,  is  he?"  , 

"Not  dat  I  knows  un,"  re 
sponded  Uncle  Remus, 
gravely.  "He  ain't  sick,  an' 
he  ain't  bin  sick.  He  des 
tuck'n  say  he  wuz  gwineter 
ride  dat  ar  roan  mule  er 
Mars  John's  de  udder  Sun 
day,  an'  de  mule,  she  up'n  do 

219 


HIS  SAYINGS 

like  she  got  nudder  ingagement.  I  done  bin  fool  wid 
dat  mule  befo',  an'  I  tuck'n  tole  Jim  dat  he  better  not 
git  tangle  up  wid  'er;  but  Jim,  he  up'n  low  dat  he 
wuz  a  hoss-doctor,  an'  wid  dat  he  ax  me  fer  a  chaw 
terbarker,  en  den  he  got  de  bridle,  en  tuck'n  kotch 
de  mule  en  got  on  her—  Well,"  continued  Uncle 
Remus,  looking  uneasily  around,  "I  speck  you  better 
go  git  yo'  ticket.  Dey  tells  me  dish  yer  train  goes  a 
callyhootin'." 

"Hole  on  dar,  Uncle  Remus;  you  ain't  tell  me  'bout 
Jim,"  exclaimed  the  Jonesboro  negro. 

"I  done  tell  you  all  I  knows,  chile.  Jim,  he  tuck'n 
light  on  de  mule,  an'  de  mule  she  up'n  hump  'erse'f, 
an  den  dey  wuz  a  skuffle,  an'  w'en  de  dus'  blow  'way, 
dar  lay  de  nigger  on  de  groun',  an*  de  mule  she  stood 
eatin'  at  de  troff  wid  wunner  Jim's  gallusses  wrop 
'roun'  her  behime-leg.  Den  atterwuds,  de  ker'ner,  he 
come  'roun',  an'  he  tuck'n  gin  it  out  dat  Jim  died 
sorter  accidental  like.  Hit's  des  like  I  tell  you:  de 
nigger  wern't  sick  a  minnit.  So  long!  Bimeby  you 
won't  ketch  yo'  train.  I  got  ter  be  knockin?  long." 

n 
UNCLE  REMVS'S  CHURCH  EXPERIENCE 

THE  deacon  of  a  colored  church  met  Uncle  Remus 
recently,  and,  after  some  uninteresting  remarks  about 
the  weather,  asked: 


UNCLE  REMUS'S   CHURCH  EXPERIENCE  221 

"How  dis  you  don't  come  down  ter  chu'ch  no  mo', 
Brer  Remus?  We  er  bin  er  havin'  some  mighty 
'freshen'  times  lately." 

"Hit's  bin  a  long  time  sence  I  bin  down  dar,  Brer 
Rastus,  an'  hit'll  be  longer.  I  done  got  my  dose." 

"You  ain't  done  gone  an*  unjined,  is  you,  Brei 
Remus?" 

"Not  zackly,  Brer  Rastus.  I  des  tuck'n  draw'd  out. 
De  members  'uz  a  blame  sight  too  mutuel  fer  ter  suit 
my  doctrines." 

"How  wuz  dat,  Brer  Remus?" 

"Well,  I  tell  you,  Brer  Rastus.  W'en  I  went  ter 
dat  chu'ch,  I  went  des  ez  umbill  ez  de  nex'  one.  I 
went  dar  fer  ter  sing,  an'  fer  ter  pray,  an'  fer  ter 
wushup,  an'  I  mos'  giner'lly  allers  had  a  stray  shin- 
plarster  w'ich  de  ole  'oman  say  she  want  sont  out  dar 
ter  dem  cullud  fokes  'cross  de  water.  Hit  went  on  dis 
way  twel  bimeby,  one  day,  de  fus  news  I  know'd  der 
was  a  row  got  up  in  de  amen  cornder.  Brer  Dick,  he 
'nounced  dat  dey  wern't  miff  money  in  de  box;  an' 
Brer  Sim  said  if  dey  wern't  he  speck  Brer  Dick 
know'd  whar  it  disappeared  ter;  an'  den  Brer  Dick 
'low'd  dat  he  won't  stan'  no  'probusness,  an'  wid  dat 
he  haul  off  an'  tuck  Brer  Sim  under  de  jaw— ker  blapl 
—an'  den  dey  clinched  an'  drapped  on  de  flo'  an'  fout 
under  de  benches  an'  'mong  de  wimmen. 

"'Bout  dat  time  Sis  Tempy,  she  lipt  up  in  de  a'r, 
an'  sing  out  dat  she  done  gone  an  tromple  on  de  Ole 


222 


HIS   SAYINGS 


Boy,  an'  she  iep*  on  lippin'  up  an'  slingin'  out  'er 
ban's  twel  bimeby— blip!— she  tuck  Sis  Becky  in  de 

mouf,  an'  den  Sis  Becky  riz 
an'  fetch  a  grab  at  Sis 
Tempy,  an'  I  'clar'  ter 
grashus  ef  didn't  'pear  ter 
me  like  she  got  a  poun*  er 
wool.  Atter  dat  de  revivin' 
sorter  het  up  like.  Bofe  un 
urn  had  kin  'mong  de 
mo'ners,  an'  ef  you  ever  see 
skufflin'  an'  scramblin'  hit 
wuz  den  an'  dar.  Brer 
Jeems  Henry,  he  mounted 
Brer  Plato  an'  rid  'im  over  de  railin',  an'  den  de 
preacher  he  start  down  fum  de  pulpit,  an'  des  ez  he 
wuz  skippin'  onter  de  flatform  a  hyme-book  kotch 
'im  in  de  bur  er  de  year,  an'  I  be  bless  ef  it  didn't 
soun'  like  a  bung-shell'd  busted.  Des  den,  Brer  Jesse, 
he  riz  up  in  his  seat,  sorter  keerless  like,  an'  went 
down  inter  his  britches  atter  his  razer,  an'  right  den 
I  know'd  sho'  nuff  trubble  wuz  begun.  Sis  Dilsey, 
she  seed  it  herse'f,  an'  she  tuck'n  let  off  wunner  dem 
hallyluyah  hollers,  an'  den  I  disremember  w'at  come 
ter  pass. 

"I'm  gittin'  sorter  ole,  Brer  Rastus,  an'  it  seem  like 
de  dus'  sorter  shet  out  de  pannyrammer.  Fuddermo', 
my  lim's  got  ter  akin,  mo'  speshully  w'en  I  year  Brer 


UNCLE  REMUS*S   CHURCH  EXPERIENCE  223 

Sim  an*  Brer  Dick  a  snortin'  and  a  skufflin'  under  de 
benches  like  ez  dey  wuz  sorter  makin'  der  way  ter  my 
pew.  So  I  kinder  hump  myse'f  an*  scramble  out,  and 
de  fus  man  w'at  I  seed  was  a  p'leeceman,  an'  he  had 
a  nigger  'rested,  an'  de  fergiven  name  er  dat  nigger 
wuz  Remus." 

"He  didn't  'res'  you,  did  he,  Brer  Remus?" 

"Hit's  des  like  I  tell  you,  Brer  Rastus,  an'  I  hatter 
git  Mars  John  fer  to  go  inter  my  bon's  fer  me.  Hit 
ain't  no  use  fer  ter  sing  out  chu'ch  ter  me,  Brer  Ras 
tus.  I  done  bin  an'  got  my  dose.  Wen  I  goes  ter  war, 
I  wanter  know  w'at  I'm  a  doin'.  I  don't  wanter  git 
hemmed  up  'mong  no  wimmen  and  preachers.  I 
wants  elbow-room,  an'  I'm  bleedzd  ter  have  it.  Des 
gimme  elbow-room." 

"But,  Brer  Remus,  you  ain't-" 

"I  mout  drap  in,  Brer  Rastus,  an'  den  ag'in  I 
moutn't,  but  w'en  you  duz  see  me  santer  in  de  do', 
wid  my  specs  on,  youk'n  des  say  to  de  congergashun, 
sorter  familious  like,  'Yer  come  ole  man  Remus  wid 
his  hoss-pistol,  an'  ef  dar's  much  uv  a  skuffle  'roun' 
yer  dis  evenin'  youer  gwineter  year  fum  'im/  Dat's 
me,  an'  dat's  what  you  kin  tell  um.  So  long!  Member 
me  to  Sis  Abby." 


224  HIS   SAYINGS 

m 
UNCLE  REMUS  AND  THE  SAVANNAH  DARKEY 

THE  notable  difference  existing  between  the 
negroes  in  the  interior  of  the  cotton  States  and  those 
on  the  seaboard— a  difference  that  extends  to  habits 
and  opinions  as  well  as  to  dialect— has  given  rise  to 
certain  ineradicable  prejudices  which  are  quick  to 
display  themselves  whenever  an  opportunity  offers. 
These  prejudices  were  forcibly,  as  well  as  ludi 
crously,  illustrated  in  Atlanta  recently.  A  gentleman 
from  Savannah  had  been  spending  the  summer  in 
the  mountains  of  north  Georgia,  and  found  it  con 
venient  to  take  along  a  body-servant.  This  body- 
servant  was  a  very  fine  specimen  of  the  average  coast 
negro— sleek,  well-conditioned,  and  consequential- 
disposed  to  regard  with  undisguised  contempt  every 
thing  and  everybody  not  indigenous  to  the  rice- 
growing  region— and  he  paraded  around  the  streets 
with  quite  a  curious  and  critical  air.  Espying  Uncle 
Remus  languidly  sunning  himself  on  a  corner,  the 
Savannah  darkey  approached. 

"Mornin ,  sah." 

"I'm  sorter  up  an*  about,"  responded  Uncle  Remus, 
carelessly  and  calmly.  "How  is  you  stannin'  it?*' 

"Tanky  you,  my  helt  mos'  so-so.  He  mo'  hot  dun 
in  de  mountain.  Seem  so  lak  man  mus'  git  need  * 

*  Underneath. 


UNCLE  REMUS  AND  THE  SAVANNAH  DARKEY  225 

de  shade.  I  enty  fer  see  no  rice-bud  in  dis 
pats." 

"In  dis  w'ich?"  inquired  Uncle  Remus,  with  a 
sudden  affectation  of  interest. 

"In  dis  pa'ts.  In  dis  country. 
Da  plenty  in  Sawanny." 

"Plenty  whar?" 

"Da  plenty  in  Sawanny.  I 
enty  fer  see  no  crab  an*  no 
oscher;  en  swimp,  he  no  stay 
'roun'.  I  lak  some  rice-bud 
now." 

"Youer  talkin'  'bout  deze 
yer  sparrers,  w'ich  dey  er  all 
head,  en  'lev'm  un  makes  one 

mouffle,*  I  speck/'  suggested  Uncle  Remus.  "Well, 
dey  er  yer,"  he  continued,  "but  dis  ain't  no  climate 
whar  de  rice-birds  flies  inter  yo'  pockets  en  gits  out 
de  money  an'  makes  de  change  derse'f;  an'  de  isters 
don't  shuck  off  der  shells  en  run  over  you  on  de 
street,  an'  no  mo'  duz  de  s'imp  hull  derse'f  an'  drap 
in  yo'  mouf.  But  dey  er  yer,  dough.  De  scads  H 
fetch  urn." 

"Him  po'  country  fer  true,"  commented  the  Sa 
vannah  negro-,  "he  no  like  Sawanny.  Down  da,  we 
set  need  de  shade  an'  eaty  de  rice-bud,  an'  de  crab,  an* 
de  swimp  tree  time  de  day;  an'  de  buckra  man  drinky 

*  MouthfuL 


226  ms  SAYINGS 

him  wme,  an'  smoky  him  seegyar  all  troo  de  night. 
Plenty  fer  eat  an'  not  much  fer  wuk." 

"Hit's  mighty  nice,  I  speck,"  responded  Uncle 
Remus,  gravely.  "De  nigger  dat  ain't  hope  up  longer 
high  feedin'  ain't  got  no  grip.  But  up  yer  whar  fokes 
is  gotter  scramble  'roun'  an'  make  der  own  livin',  de 
vittles  wat's  kumerlated  widout  enny  sweatin'  mos* 
allers  gener'lly  b'longs  ter  some  yuther  man  by  rights. 
One  hoe-cake  an'  a  rasher  er  middlin'  meat  las's  me 
fum  Sunday  ter  Sunday,  an'  I'm  in  a  mighty  big 
streak  er  luck  w'en  I  gits  dat." 

The  Savannah  negro  here  gave  utterance  to  a  loud, 
contemptuous  laugh,  and  began  to  fumble  somewhat 
ostentatiously  with  a  big  brass  watch-chain. 

"But  I  speck  I  struck  up  wid  a  payin'  job  las' 
Chuseday,"  continued  Uncle  Remus,  in  a  hopeful  tone. 

"Wey  you  gwan  do?" 

"Oh,  I'm  a  waitin'  on  a  culled  gemmun  fum  Sa 
vannah— wunner  deze  yer  high  livers  you  bin  tellin' 
'bout." 

"How  dat?" 

"I  loant  'im  two  dollars,"  responded  Uncle  Remus, 
grimly,  "an'  I'm  a  waitin'  on  'im  fer  de  money.  Hit's 
wunner  deze  yer  jobs  w'at  las's  a  long  time." 

The  Savannah  negro  went  off  after  his  rice-birds, 
while  Uncle  Remus  leaned  up  against  the  wall  and 
laughed  until  he  was  in  imminent  danger  of  falling 
down  from  sheer  exhaustion. 


TURNIP   SALAD  AS  A  TEXT  227 

IV. 
TURNIP  SALAD  AS  A  TEXT 

As  Uncle  Remus  was  going  down  the  street  re 
cently  he  was  accosted  by  several  acquaintances. 

"Heyo!"  said  one,  "here  comes  Uncle  Remus.  He 
look  like  he  gwine  fer  ter  set 
up  a  bo'din-house." 

Several  others  bantered  the 
old  man,  but  he  appeared  to  be 
in  a  good  humor.  He  was  car 
rying  a  huge  basket  of  vege 
tables. 

"How  many  er  you  boys," 
said  he,  as  he  put  his  basket 
down,  "is  done  a  han's  turn  dis 
day?  En  yit  de  week's  done 
commence.  I  year  talk  er  nig 
gers  dat's  got  money  in  de  bank, 
but  I  lay  hit  ain't  none  er  you 
fellers.  Whar  you  speck  you  gwineter  git  yo'  dinner, 
en  how  you  speck  you  gwineter  git  long?" 

"Oh,  we  sorter  knocks  'roun'  an'  picks  up  a  living" 
responded  one. 

"Dat's  w'at  make  I  say  w'at  I  duz,"  said  Uncle 
Remus.  "Fokes  go  'bout  in  de  day-time  an'  makes  a 
livin',  an'  you  come  long  w'en  dey  er  res'in'  der  bones 


228  HIS   SAYINGS 

an'  picks  it  up.  I  ain't  no  han'  at  figgers,  but  I  lay  I 
k'n  count  up  right  yer  in  de  san'  en  number  up  how 
menny  days  hit'll  be  'fo'  you'er  cuppled  on  ter  de 
chain-gang." 

"De  ole  man's  holler 'n  now  sho',"  said  one  of  the 
listeners,  gazing  with  admiration  on  the  venerable 
old  darkey. 

"I  ain't  takin'  no  chances  'bout  vittles.  Hit's 
proned  inter  me  fum  de  fus  dat  I  got  ter  eat,  en  I 
knows  dat  I  got  fer  ter  grub  for  w'at  I  gits.  Hit's 
agin  de  mor'l  law  fer  niggers  fer  ter  eat  w'en  dey 
don't  wuk,  an'  w'en  you  see  um  'pariently  fattenin'  on 
a'r,  you  k'n  des  bet  dat  ruinashun's  gwine  on  some'rs. 
I  got  mustard,  en  poke  salid,  en  lam's  quarter  in  dat 
baskit,  en  me  en  my  ole  'oman  gwineter  sample  it.  Ef 
enny  you  boys  git  a  invite  you  come,  but  ef  you  don't 
you  better  stay  'way.  I  gotter  muskit  out  dar  w'at's 
used  ter  persidin'  'roun'  whar  dey's  a  cripple  nigger. 
Don't  you  fergit  dat  ofFn  yo'  mine." 


v 
A  CONFESSION 

"W'AT'S  dis  yer  I  see,  great  big  niggers  gwine 
lopin'  'roun'  town  wid  cakes  'n  pies  fer  ter  sell?" 
asked  Uncle  Remus  recently,  in  his  most  scornful 
tone. 


A   CONFESSION 


229 


"That's  what  they  are  doing,"  responded  a  young 
man;  "that's  the  way  they  make  a  living." 

"Dat  w'at  make  I  say  w'at  I  duz— dat  w'at  keep 
me  grumlin'  w'en  I  goes  in  cullud  fokes  s'ciety.  Some 
niggers  ain't  gwine  ter  wuk  nohow,  an'  hit's  flingin* 
'way  time  fer  ter  set  enny  chain-gang  traps  fer  ter 
ketch  um." 

"Well,  now,  here!"  exclaimed  the  young  man,  in  a 
dramatic  tone,  "what  are  you  giving  us  now?  Isn't  it 
just  as  honest  and  just  as  regular  to  sell  pies  as  it  is  to 
do  any  other  kind  of  work?" 

"Tain't  dat,  boss,"  said  the  old  man,  seeing  that 
he  was  about  to  be  cornered;  "'tain't  dat.  Hit's  de 
nas'ness  un  it  w'at  gits  me." 

"Oh,  get  out!" 

"Dat's  me,  boss,  up  an*  down.  Ef  dere's  ruinashun 
ennywhar  in  de  known  wurril,  she  goes  in  de  comp'ny 
uv  a  hongry  nigger  w'at's  a 
totin'  pies  'roun.'  Sometimes 
w'en  I  git  kotch  wid  empti 
ness  in  de  pit  er  de  stum- 
muck,  an'  git  ter  fairly 
honin'  arter  sumpin'  w'at 
got  substance  in  it,  den  hit 
look  like  unto  me  dat  I  kin 
stan'  flat-footed  an'  make 
more  cle'r  money  eatin'  pies 
dan  I  could  if  I  wuz  ter  sell 


230  HIS   SAYINGS 

de  las'  one  'twixt  dis  an*  Chrismus.  An'  de  nigger  w'at 
k'n  trapes  'round  wid  pies  and  not  git  in  no  alley-way 
an'  sample  um,  den  I'm  bleedzd  ter  say  dat  nigger 
out-niggers  me  an'  my  fambly.  So  dar  nowl" 


VI 
UNCLE  REMUS  WITH  THE  TOOTHACHE 

WHEN  Uncle  Remus  put  in  an  appearance  one 
morning  recently,  his  friends  knew  he  had  been  in 
trouble.  He  had  a  red  cotton  handkerchief  tied  under 
his  chin,  and  the  genial  humor  that  usually  makes  his 
aged  face  its  dwelling-place  had  given  way  to  an  ex 
pression  of  grim  melancholy.  The  young  men  about 
the  office  were  inclined  to  chaff  him,  but  his  look  of 
sullen  resignation  remained  unchanged. 

"What  revival  did  you  attend  last  night?"  inquired 
one. 

"What  was  the  color  of  the  mule  that  did  the  ham 
mering?"  asked  another. 

"I  always  told  the  old  man  that  a  suburban  chicken 
coop  would  fall  on  him,"  remarked  some  one. 

"A  strange  pig  has  been  squealing  in  his  ear,"  sug 
gested  some  one  else. 

But  Uncle  Remus  remained  impassive.  He  seemed 
to  have  lost  all  interest  in  what  was  going  on  around 
him,  and  he  sighed  heavily  as  he  seated  himself  on  the 


UNCLE  REMUS  WITH  THE  TOOTHACHE 


231 


edge  of  the  trash-box  in  front  of  the  office.  Finally 
some  one  asked,  in  a  sympathetic  tone: 

"What  is  the  matter,  old  man?  You  look  like  you'd 
been  through  the  mill." 

"Now  you'er  knockin'  at  de  back  do'  sho'.  Ef  I 
ain't  bin  thoo  de  mill 
sence  day  'fo'  yis- 
tiddy,  den  dey  ain't 
no  mills  in  de  Ian'. 
Ef  wunner  deze  yer 
scurshun  trains  had 
runned  over  me  I 
couldn't  er  bin  wuss 
off.  I  bin  trompin' 
'roun'  in  de  low- 
groun's  now>gwine 
on  seventy-fi'  year, 
but  I  ain't  see  no  sich 
times  ez  dat  w'at  I  done  spe'unst  now.  Boss,  is  enny 
er  you  all  ever  rastled  wid  de  toofache?" 

"Oh,  hundreds  of  times!  The  toothache  isn't  any 
thing." 

"Den  you  des  played  'roun'  de  aidges.  You  ain't  had 
de  kine  w'at  kotch  me  on  de  underjaw.  You  mout  a 
had  a  gum-bile,  but  you  ain't  bin  boddered  wid  de 
toofache.  I  wuz  settin'  up  talkin'  wid  my  ole  'oman, 
kinder  puzzlin'  'roun'  fer  ter  see  whar  de  nex'  meal's 
vittles  wuz  a  gwineter  cum  fum,  an'  I  feel  a  little 


232  HIS   SAYINGS 

ache  sorter  crawlin'  long  on  my  jaw-bone,  kinder 
feelin'  his  way.  But  de  ache  don't  stay  long.  He 
sorter  hankered  'roun'  like,  en  den  crope  back  whar 
he  come  fum.  Bimeby  I  feel  'im  comin'  agin,  an*  dis 
time  hit  look  like  he  come  up  closer— kinder  skum- 
mishin'  'roun'  fer  ter  see  how  de  Ian'  lay.  Den  he 
went  off.  Present'y  I  feel  'im  comin',  an'  dis  time  hit 
look  like  he  kyar'd  de  news  unto  Mary,  fer  hit  feel 
like  der  wuz  anudder  wun  wid  'im.  Dey  crep'  up  an' 
crep'  'roun',  an'  den  dey  crope  off.  Bimeby  dey  come 
back,  an'  dis  time  dey  come  like  dey  wuzent  'fear'd 
er  de  s'roundin's,  fer  dey  trot  right  up  unto  de  toof, 
sorter  zamine  it  like,  an'  den  trot  all  roun'  it,  like  deze 
yer  circuous  hosses.  I  sot  dar  mighty  ca'm,  but  I 
spected  dat  sump'n'  wuz  gwine  ter  happ'n." 

"And  it  happened,  did  it?"  asked  some  one  in  the 
group  surrounding  the  old  man. 

"Boss,  don't  you  fergit  it,"  responded  Uncle  Remus, 
fervidly.  "Wen  dem  aches  gallop  back  dey  galloped 
fer  ter  stay,  an'  dey  wuz  so  mixed  up  dat  I  couldn't 
tell  one  fum  de  udder.  All  night  long  dey  racked  an* 
dey  galloped,  an'  w'en  dey  got  tired  er  rackin'  an* 
gallopin',  dey  all  close  in  on  de  ole  toof  an'  thumped 
it  an'  gouged  at  it  twel  it  'peared  unto  me  dat  dey 
had  got  de  jaw-bone  loosened  up,  an'  wuz  tryin'  fer 
ter  fetch  it  up  thoo  de  top  er  my  head  an*  out  at  der 
back  er  my  neck.  An'  dey  got  wuss  nex'  day.  Mars 
John,  he  seed  I  wuz  'stracted,  an'  he  tole  me  fer  ter 


THE  PHONOGRAPH  233 

go  roun'  yere  an'  git  sump'n'  put  on  it,  an'  de  drug 
man  he  lowed  dat  I  better  have  'er  draw'd,  an'  his 
wuds  wuzent  more'n  cole  'fo'  wunner  deze  yer  watch- 
youmaycollums— wunner  deze  dentis'  mens— had 
retched  fer  it  wid  a  pa'r  er  tongs  w'at  don't  tu'n  loose 
w'en  dey  ketches  a  holt.  Leas'ways  dey  didn't  wid  me. 
You  oughter  seed  dat  toof,  boss.  Hit  wuz  wunner 
deze  yer  fo'-prong  fellers.  Ef  she'd  a  grow'd  wrong 
eend  out'ard,  I'd  a  bin  a  bad  nigger  long  arter  I 
jin'd  de  chu'ch.  You  year'd  my  ho'nl" 


vn 

THE  PHONOGRAPH 

"UNO  REMUS,"  asked  a  tall,  awkward-looking 
negro,  who  was  one  of  a  crowd  surrounding  the  old 
man,  "w'at's  dish  'ere  w'at  dey  calls  de  fonygraf— 
dish  yer  instrument  w'at  kin  holler  'roun'  like  little 
chillun  in  de  back  yard?" 

"I  ain't  seed  um,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  feeling  in 
his  pocket  for  a  fresh  chew  of  tobacco.  "I  ain't  seed 
um,  but  I  year  talk  un  um.  Miss  Sally  wuz  a  readin' 
in  de  papers  las'  Chuseday,  an'  she  say  dat's  it's  a 
mighty  big  watchyoumaycollum." 

"A  mighty  big  w'ich?"  asked  one  of  the  crowd. 

"A  mighty  big  w'atzisname,"  answered  Uncle  Re- 
rnus,  cautiously.  "I  wuzent  up  dar  close  to  whar  Miss 


234 


HIS  SAYINGS 


Sarah  wuz  a  readin',  but  I  kinder  geddered  in  dat  it 
wuz  one  er  deze  'ere  w'atzisnames  w'at  you  hollers 
inter  one  year  an*  it 
comes  out  er  de  ud 
der.  Hit's  mighty 
funny  unter  me  how 
dese  fokes  kin  go  an' 
prognosticate  der  ec- 
koes  inter  one  er  deze 
yer  i'on  boxes,  an'  dar 
hitll  stay  on  twel  de 
man  comes  long  an' 
tu'ns  de  handle  an'  let's  de  fuss  come  pilin'  out. 
Bimeby  deyll  git  ter  makin'  sho'  miff  fokes,  an*  den 
derell  be  a  racket  'roun'  here.  Dey  tells  me  dat  it 
goes  off  like  one  er  deze  yer  torpedoes." 

"You  year  dat,  don't  you?"  said  one  or  two  of  the 
younger  negroes. 

"Dat's  w'at  dey  tells  me,"  continued  Uncle  Remus. 
"Dat's  w'at  dey  sez.  Hit's  one  er  deze  yer  kinder 
w'atzisnames  w'at  sasses  back  w'en  you  hollers 
at  it." 

"W'at  dey  fix  um  fer,  den?"  asked  one  of  the 
practical  negroes. 

"Dat's  w'at  I  wanter  know,"  said  Uncle  Remus, 
contemplatively.  "But  dat's  w'at  Miss  Sally  wuz  a 
readin'  in  de  paper.  All  you  gotter  do  is  ter  holler  at 
de  box,  an'  dar's  yo'  remarks.  Dey  goes  in,  an'  dar 


RACE  IMPROVEMENT  235 

dey  er  tooken  and  dar  dey  hangs  on  twel  you  shakes 
de  box,  an'  den  dey  draps  out  des  ez  fresh  ez  deze 
yer  fishes  w'at  you  git  fum  Savannah,  an'  you  ain't 
got  time  fer  ter  look  at  dere  gills,  nudder." 

vm 
RACE  IMPROVEMENT 

"DERE'S  a  kind  er  limberness  *bout  niggers  dese 
days  dat's  mighty  cu'us,"  remarked  Uncle  Remus  yes 
terday,  as  he  deposited  a  pitcher  of  fresh  water  upon 
the  exchange  table.  "I  notisses  it  in  de  alley-ways  an' 
on  de  street-cornders.  Dey  er  rackin'  up,  mon,  deze 
yer  cullud  fokes  is." 

"What  are  you  trying  to  give  us  now?"  inquired 
one  of  the  young  men,  in  a  bilious  tone. 

"The  old  man's  mind  is  wandering,"  said  the 
society  editor,  smoothing  the  wrinkles  out  of  his 
lavender  kids. 

Uncle  Remus  laughed.  "I  speck  I  is  a  gittin'  mo 
frailer  dan  I  wuz  'fo'  de  fahmin  days  wuz  over,  but  I 
sees  wid  my  eyes  an'  I  years  wid  my  year,  same  ez 
enny  er  dese  yer  young  bucks  w'at  goes  a  gallopin' 
'roun'  huntin'  up  devilment,  an'  w'en  I  sees  de  limber- 
ness  er  dese  yer  cullud  people,  an'  w'en  I  sees  how 
dey  er  dancin'  up,  den  I  gits  sorter  hopeful.  Dey  er 
kinder  ketchin'  up  wid  me." 

"How  is  that?" 


236 


HIS   SAYINGS 


"Oh,  dey  er  movin',"  responded  Uncle  Remus. 
"Dey  er  sorter  comin'  'roun'.  Dey  er  gittin'  so  dey 
b'leeve  dat  dey  ain't  no  better  dan 
de  w'ite  fokes.  Wen  freedom  come 
out  de  niggers  sorter  got  dere 
humps  up,  an'  dey  staid  dat  way, 
twel  bimeby  dey  begun  fer  ter  git 
hongry,  an*  den  dey  begun  fer  ter 
drap  inter  line  right  smartually;  an' 
now,"  continued  the  old  man,  em 
phatically,  "dey  er  des  ez  palaver 
ous  ez  dey  wuz  befo'  de  war.  Dey 
er  gittin'  on  solid  groun',  mon." 

"You  think  they  are  improving, 
then?" 

"Youer  chawin'  guv'nment  now,  boss.  You  slap 
de  law  onter  a  nigger  a  time  er  two,  an'  larn  'im  dat 
he's  got  fer  to  look  atter  his  own  rashuns  an'  keep 
out'n  udder  fokes's  chick'n-coops,  an'  sorter  coax  'im 
inter  de  idee  dat  he's  got  ter  feed  'is  own  chilluns,  an* 
I  be  blessed  ef  you  ain't  got  'im  on  risin'  groun'.  An', 
mo'n  dat,  w'en  he  gits  holt  er  de  fack  dat  a  nigger  k'n 
have  yaller  fever  same  ez  w'ite  folks,  you  done  got 
'im  on  de  mo'ners'  bench,  an'  den  ef  you  come  down 
strong  on  de  p'int  dat  he  oughter  stan'  fas'  by  de 
fokes  w'at  hope  him  w'en  he  wuz  in  trouble  de  job's 
done.  W'en  you  does  dat,  ef  you  ain't  got  yo'  hari's 
on  a  new-made  nigger,  den  my  name  ain't  Remus, 


IN  THE  ROLE  OF  A  TARTAR         237 

an'  ef  dat  name's  bin  changed  I  ain't  seen  her  abber* 
tized." 


rx 
IN  THE  ROLE  OF  A  TARTAR 

A  CHARLESTON  negro  who  was  in  Atlanta  on  the 
Fourth  of  July  made  a  mistake.  He  saw  Uncle  Remus 
edging  his  way  through  the  crowd,  and  thought  he 
knew  him. 

"Howdy,  Daddy  Ben?"  the  stranger  exclaimed. 
"I  tink  I  nubber  see  you  no  mo'.  Wey  you  gwan? 
He  hot  fer  true,  ain't  he?" 

"Daddy  who?"  asked  Uncle  Remus,  straightening 
himself  up  with  dignity.  "W'ich?" 

"I  know  you  in  Charl'son,  an'  den  in  Sewanny.  I 
spec  I  dun  grow  away  from  'membrance." 

"You  knowed  me  in  Charlstun,  and  den  in  Sa-« 
vanny?" 

"He  been  long  time,  ain't  he,  Daddy  Ben?" 

"Dat's  w'at's  a  pesterin'  un  me.  How  much  you 
reckon  you  know'd  me?" 

"He  good  while  pas';  when  I  wer*  pickaninny. 
He  long  time  ago.  Wey  you  gwan,  Daddy  Ben?" 

"Wat  does  you  season  your  recollection  wid  fer 
ter  make  it  hole  on  so?"  inquired  the  old  man. 

"I  dunno.  He  stick  hese'f.  I  see  you  comin'  long 
?D  J  toy  'Dey  Daddy  Ben.'  I  tink  I  see  you  no  mo', 


238  ms  SAYINGS 

an'  I  shaky  you  by  de  han'.  Wey  you  gwan?  Dey  no 
place  yer  wey  we  git  wine?" 

Uncle  Remus  stared  at  the  strange  darkey  curi 
ously  for  a  moment,  and  then  he  seized  him  by  the 
arm. 

"Come  yer,  son,  whar  dey  ain't  no  folks  an'  lemme 


drap  some  Jawjy  'intment  in  dem  years  er  yone. 
Youer  mighty  fur  ways  fum  home,  an*  you  wanter  be 
a  lookin'  out  fer  yo'se'f.  Fus  and  fo'mus,  youer 
thumpin'  de  wrong  watermillion.  Youer  w'isslin'  up 
de  wrong  chube.  I  ain't  tromped  roun'  de  country 
much.  I  ain't  bin  to  Charlstun  an'  needer  is  I  tuck  in 
Savanny;  but  you  couldn't  rig  up  no  game  on  me 
dat  I  wouldn't  tumble  on  to  it  de  minit  I  laid  my 
eyeballs  on  you.  Wen  hit  come  to  dat  I'm  ole  man 
Tumbler,  fum  Tumblersville— I  is  dat.  Hit  takes  one 
er  deze  yer  full-blooded  w'ite  men  fur  ter  trap  my 


A  CASE  OF  MEASLES  239 

jedgment.  But  w'en  a  nigger  comes  a  jabberin'  'roun' 
like  he  got  a  mouf  full  er  rice  straw,  he  ain't  got  no 
mo'  chance  'long  side  er  me  dan  a  sick  sparrer  wid  a 
squinch-owl.  You  gotter  travel  wid  a  circus  'fo'  you 
gits  away  wid  me.  You  better  go  long  an'  git  yo' 
kyarpet-sack  and  skip  de  town.  Youer  de  freshest 
nigger  w'at  I  seen  yit." 

The  Charleston  negro  passed  on  just  as  a  police 
man  came  up. 

"Boss,  you  see  dat  smart  Ellick?" 

"Yes,  what's  the  matter  with  him?" 

"He's  one  er  deze  yer  scurshun  niggers  from  Charl* 
stun.  I  seed  you  a  stannin'  over  agin  de  cornder  yan- 
der,  an'  ef  dat  nigger'd  a  drawd  his  monty  kyards  on 
me,  I  wuz  a  gwineter  holler  fer  you.  Would  youer 
come,  boss?" 

"Why,  certainly,  Uncle  Remus." 

"Dat's  w'at  I  lowd.  Little  more'n  he'd  a  bin  aboard 
er  de  wrong  waggin.  Dat's  w'at  he'd  a  bin." 

x 

A  CASE  OF  MEASLES 

"YOU'VE  been  looking  like  you  were  rather  under 
the  weather  for  the  past  week  or  two,  Uncle  Remus," 
said  a  gentleman  to  the  old  man. 

"You'd  be  sorter  puny,  too,  boss,  if  you'der  bin 
whar  I  bin." 


240  HIS   SAYINGS 

"Where  have  you  been?" 

"  'Pear  ter  me  like  ev'eybody  done  year  'bout  dat. 
Dey  ain't  no  ole  nigger  my  age  an'  size  dat's  had  no 
rattliner  time  dan  I  is." 

"A  kind  of  picnic?" 

"Go  'long,  boss!  w'at  you  speck  I  be  doin'  sailin' 
'roun'  ter  dese  yer  cullud  picnics?  Much  mo'  an'  I 
wouldn't  make  bread  by  wukkin  fer't,  let  lone  fol- 
lerin'  up  a  passel  er  boys  an'  gals  all  over  keration. 
Boss,  ain't  you  year  'bout  it,  sho'  'nuff?" 

"I  haven't,  really.  What  was  the  matter?" 

"I  got  strucken  wid  a  sickness,  an'  she  hit  de  ole 
nigger  a  joe-darter  'fo'  she  tu'n  'im  loose." 

"What  kind  of  sickness?" 

"Hit  look  sorter  cu'ous,  boss,  but  ole  an'  steddy  ez 
I  is,  I  tuck'n  kotch  de  meezles." 

"Oh,  get  out!  You  are  trying  to  get  up  a  sensation." 

"Hit's  a  natal  fack,  boss,  I  declar'  ter  grashus  ef 
'tain't.  Dey  sorter  come  on  wid  a  cole,  like— leas'ways 
dat's  how  I  commence  fer  ter  suffer,  an'  den  er  koff 
got  straddle  er  de  cole— one  dese  yer  koffs  w'at  look 
like  hit  goes  ter  de  foundash'n.  I  kep'  on  linger'n' 
'roun'  sorter  keepin*  one  eye  on  the  rheumatiz  an'  de 
udder  on  de  distemper,  twel,  bimeby,  I  begin  fer  ter 
feel  de  trestle-wuk  give  way,  an'  den  I  des  know'd 
dat  I  wuz  gwineter  gitter  racket.  I  slipt  inter  bed  one 
Chuseday  night,  an'  I  never  slip  out  no  mo*  fer 
mighty  nigh  er  mont*. 


A   CASE  OF  MEASLES 


241 


"Nex'  mornin'  de  meezles  'd  done  kivered  me,  an* 
den  ef  I  didn't  git  dosted  by  de  ole  'oman  I'm  a 
Chinee.  She  gimme  back  rashuns  er  sassafac  tea.  I 
des  natally  hankered  an'  got  hongry  atter  water,  an" 
ev'y  time  I  sing  out  fer  water  I  got  b'ilin'  hot  sassafac 
tea.  Hit  got  so  dat  w'en  I  wake  up  in  de  mornin'  de 
ole  'oman  'd  des  come  long  wid  a  kittle  er  tea  an*  fill 


me  up.  Dey  tells  me  'roun'  town  dat  chilluns  don't  git 
hurted  wid  de  meezles,  w'ich  ef  dey  don't  I  wanter 
be  a  baby  de  nex'  time  dey  hits  dis  place.  All  dis  yer 
meezles  bizness  is  bran'-new  ter  me.  In  ole  times,  *fo' 
de  wah,  I  ain't  heer  tell  er  no  seventy-fi'-year-ole 
nigger  grapplin'  wid  no  meezles.  Dey  ain't  ketchin* 
no  mo',  is  dey,  boss?" 


242  ms  SAYINGS 

"Oh,  no— I  suppose  not." 

*'Kase  ef  dey  is,  youk'n  des  put  my  name  down 
wid  de  migrashun  niggers/' 


XI 

THE  EMIGRANTS 

WHEN  Uncle  Remus  went  down  to  the  passenger 
depot  one  morning  recently,  the  first  sight  that  caught 
his  eye  was  an  old  negro  man,  a  woman,  and  two  chil 
dren  sitting  in  the  shade  near  the  door  of  the  bag 
gage-room.  One  of  the  children  was  very  young,  and 
the  quartet  was  altogether  ragged  and  forlorn-look 
ing.  The  sympathies  of  Uncle  Remus  were  immedi 
ately  aroused.  He  approached  the  group  by  forced 
inarches,  and  finally  unburdened  his  curiosity. 

"Whar  is  you  m'anderin'  unter,  pard?" 

The  old  negro,  who  seemed  to  be  rather  suspicious, 
IdoHd  at  Uncle  Remus  coolly,  and  appeared  to  be 
considering  whether  he  should  make  any  reply. 
Finally,  however,  he  stretched  himself  and  said: 

"We  er  gwine  down  in  de  naberhoods  er  Tally- 
poosy,  an'  we  ain't  makin'  no  fuss  'bout  it,  nudder." 

"I  disremember,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  thoughtfully, 
"whar  Tallypoosy  is." 

"Oh,  hit's  out  yan,"  replied  the  old  man,  motion 
ing  his  head  as  if  it  was  just  beyond  the  iron  gates  of 


THE  EMIGRANTS 


243 


the  depot.  "Hit's  down  in  Alabam.  When  we  git  dar, 
maybe  well  go  on  twel  we  gits  ter  Massasip." 

'Is  you  got  enny  folks  out  dar?"  inquired  Uncle 
Remus. 

"None  dat  I  knows  un." 

'"An*  youer  takin'  dis  'oman  an*  deze  chillun  out 
dar  whar  dey  dunno  nobody?  Whar's  yo'  perwisions?" 
eying  a  chest  with 
a  jrope  around  it. 

"Dem's  our  bed- 
cloze/'  the  old 
negro  explained, 
noticing  the  glance 
of  Uncle  Remus. 
"All  devittles  what; 
we  got  we  e't  'fo' 
we  started." 

"An'  you  speck 
ter  retch  dar  safe 
an'  soun'?  Whar's 
yo'  ticket?" 

"Ain"t  got  none.  De  man  say  ez  how  dey'd  pass 
us  thoo.  I  gin  a  man  a  fi'-dollar  bill  'fo'  I  lef  Jones- 
boro,  an'  he  sed  dat  settled  it." 

"Lemme  tell  you  dis,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  straight 
ening  up  indignantly:  "you  go  an'  rob  somebody  an' 
gi:  on  de  chain-gang,  an'  let  de  'oman  scratch  'roun' 
yer  an'  make  'er  livin';  but  don't  you  git  on  dem  kyars 


244  ms  SAYINGS 

—don't  you  do  it.  Yo'  bes'  holt  is  de  chain-gang.  You 
kin  make  yo'  livin'  dar  w'en  you  can't  make  it  no- 
whars  else.  But  don't  you  git  on  dem  kyars.  E£  you 
do,  youer  gone  nigger.  Ef  you  ain't  got  no  money  fer 
ter  walk  back  wid,  you  better  des  b'il'  yo'  nes'  right 
here.  I'm  a-talkin'  wid  de  bark  on.  I  done  seed  deze 
yer  Arkinsaw  emmygrants  come  lopein'  back,  an 
some  un  'em  didn't  have  rags  nuff  on  'em  fer  ter  hide 
dere  nakidness.  You  leave  dat  box  right  whar  she  is, 
an*  let  de  'oman  take  wun  young  un  an'  you  take  de 
udder  wun,  an'  den  you  git  in  de  middle  er  de  big 
road  an'  pull  out  fer  de  place  whar  you  come  fum. 
I'm  preachin'  now." 

Those  who  watched  say  the  quartet  didn't  take  the 
cars. 

xn 
AS  A  MURDERER 

UNCLE  REMUS  met  a  police  officer  recently. 

"You  ain't  hear  talk  er  no  dead  nigger  nowhar  dis 
mawnin',  is  you,  boss?"  asked  the  old  man  earnestly. 

"No,"  replied  the  policeman,  reflectively.  "No,  1 
believe  not.  Have  you  heard  of  any?" 

"  'Pears  unter  me  dat  I  come  mighty  nigh  gittin' 
some  news  'bout  dat  size,  an'  dat's  w'at  I'm  a  huntin 
fer.  Bekaze  ef  dey  er  foun'  a  stray  nigger  layin'  'roun 
loose,  wid  'is  bref  gone,  den  I  wanter  go  home  an'  git 
«iy  brekfus*  an'  put  on  some  clean  cloze,  an'  'liver 


AS  A  MURDERER  245 

myse'f  up  ter  wunner  deze  yer  jestesses  er  de  peace, 
an'  git  a  fa'r  trial/' 

"Why,  have  you  killed  anybody?" 

"Dat's  w'at's  Tin  a  'quirin'  inter  now,  but  I  wouldn't 
be  sustonished  ef  I  ain't  laid  a  nigger  out  some'rs  on 
de  subbubs.  Hit's  done  got  so  it's  agin  de  law  fer  ter 
bus*  loose  an'  kill  a  nigger,  ain't  it,  boss?" 

"Well,  I  should  say  so.  You  don't  mean  to  tell  me 
that  you  have  killed  a  colored  man,  do  you?" 

"I  speck  I  is,  boss.  I  speck  I  done  gone  an'  done 
it  dis  time,  sho.'  Hit's  bin  sorter  growin'  on  me,  an'  it 
come  ter  a  head  dis  mawnin',  les  my  name  ain't  Re 
mus,  an'  dat's  w'at  dey  bin  er  callin'  me  sence  I  wuz 
ole  er  'nuff  fer  ter  scratch  myse'f  wid  my  lef  han'." 

'Well,  if  you've  killed  a  man,  you'll  have  some  fun, 
sure  enough.  How  was  it?" 

"Hit  wuz  dis  way,  boss:  I  wuz  layin'  in  my  bed 
dis  mawnin'  sorter  ruminatin'  'roun',  when  de  fus 
news  I  know'd  I  year  a  fus'  'mong  de  chickens,  an' 
den  my  brissels  riz.  I  done  had  lots  er  trubble  wid 
dem  chickens,  an'  w'en  I  years  wun  un  um  squall  my 
ve'y  shoes  comes  ontied.  So  I  des  sorter  riz  up  an5 
retch  fer  my  ole  muskit,  and  den  I  crope  out  er  de 
back  do',  an'  w'atter  you  reckin  I  seed?" 

"I  couldn't  say." 

"I  seed  de  biggest,  blackest  nigger  dat  you  ever 
laid  eyes  on.  He  shined  like  de  paint  on  'im  was  fresh. 
He  hed  done  grabbed  fo'er  my  forwardes'  pullets.  I 


246 


HIS  SAYINGS 


crope  up  nigh  do  do',  an'  hollered  an'  axed  'im  how  he 
wuz  a  gittin'  on,  an'  den  he  broke,  an'  ez  he  broke  I 
jammed  de  gun  in  de  small  er  his  back  and  banged 


aloose.  He  let  a  yell  like  forty  yaller  cats  a  courtin', 
an'  den  he  broke.  You  ain't  seed  no  nigger  hump 
hisse'f  like  dat  nigger.  He  tore  down  de  well  shelter 
and  fo'  pannils  er  fence,  an'  de  groun'  look  like 
wumier  deze  yer  harrycanes  had  lit  dar  and  fanned 
up  de  yeath." 

"Why,  I  thought  you  killed  him?" 

"He  bleedzed  ter  be  dead,  boss.  Ain't  I  put  de 


HIS  PRACTICAL  VIEW  OF  THINGS  247 

gun  right  on  'im?  Seem  like  I  feel  'im  give  way  w'en 
she  went  off." 

"Was  the  gun  loaded?" 

"Dat's  w'at  my  ole  'oman  say.  She  had  de  powder 
in  dar,  sho',  but  I  disremember  wedder  I  put  de  buck 
shot  in,  er  wedder  I  lef  um  out.  Leas'ways,  I'm 
gwineter  call  on  wunner  deze  yer  jestesses.  So  long, 
boss." 

xm 
HIS  PRACTICAL  VIEW  OF  THINGS 

"BRER  REMUS,  is  you  heern  tell  er  deze  doin's  out 
yer  in  de  udder  eend  er  town?"  asked  a  colored 
deacon  of  the  church  the  other  day. 

"W  at  doin's  is  dat,  Brer  Ab?" 

"Deze  yer  signs  an'  wunders  whar  dat  cullud  lady 
died  day  'fo'  yistiddy.  Mighty  quare  goin's  on  out 
dar,  Brer  Remus,  sho's  you  bawn." 

"Sperrits?"  inquired  Uncle  Remus,  sententiously. 

"Wuss'n  dat,  Brer  Remus.  Some  say  dat  jedgment- 
day  ain't  fur  off,  an'  de  folks  is  flockin'  'roun*  de  house 
a  hollerin'  an*  a  shoutin'  des  like  dey  wuz  in  er  re 
vival.  In  de  winder  glass  dar  you  kin  see  de  flags  a 
flyin',  an'  Jacob's  lather  is  dar,  an*  dar's  writin'  on  de 
pane  w'at  no  man  can't  read— leas'wise  dey  ain't  none 
read  it  yit." 

"W'at  kinder  racket  is  dis  youer  givin*  un  me  now, 
Brer  Ab?" 


248 


HIS   SAYINGS 


"I  done  bin  dar,  Brer  Remus;  I  done  seed  um  wid 
bofe  my  eyes.  Cullud  lady  what  wuz  intranced  done 
woke  up  an*  say  dey  ain't  much  time  fer  ter  tarry. 


She  say  she  meet  er  angel  in  de  road,  an'  he  p'inted 
straight  fer  de  mornin'  star,  an'  tell  her  fer  ter  prepar'. 
Hit  look  mighty  cu'us,  Brer  Remus." 

"Cum  down  ter  dat,  Brer  Ab,"  said  Uncle  Remus, 
wiping  his  spectacles  carefully,  and  readjusting  them 
—"cum  down  ter  dat,  an'  dey  ain't  nuthin'  dat  ain't 
cu'us.  I  ain't  no  spishus  nigger  myse'f,  but  I  'spizes 
fer  ter  year  dogs  a  howlin'  an'  squinch-owls  havin'  de 
ager  out  in  de  woods,  an*  w'en  a  bull  goes  a  bellerin' 
by  de  house  den  my  bones  git  cole  an'  my  flesh  com 
mences  fer  ter  creep;  but  w'en  it  comes  ter  deze  yer 
sines  in  de  a'r  an'  deze  yer  sperrits  in  de  woods,  den 
I'm  out— den  I'm  done.  I  is,  fer  a  f ack.  I  bin  livin'  yer 


THAT  DECEITFUL  JUG  249 

more'n  seventy  year,  an*  I  year  talk  er  niggers  seein' 
ghos'es  all  times  er  night  an*  all  times  er  day,  but  I 
ain't  never  seed  none  yit;  an'  deze  yer  flags  an'  Jacob's 
lathers,  I  ain't  seed  dem,  nudder." 

"Dey  er  dar,  Brer  Remus." 

"Hit's  des  like  I  tell  you,  Brer  Ab.  I  ain't  'sputin' 
'bout  it,  but  I  ain't  seed  um,  an'  I  don't  take  no 
chances  deze  days  on  dat  w'at  I  don't  see,  an'  dat 
w'at  I  sees  I  got  ter  'zamine  mighty  close.  Lemme 
tell  you  dis,  Brer  Ab:  don't  you  let  deze  sines  onsettle 
you.  Wen  old  man  Gabrile  toot  his  ho'n,  he  ain't 
gwinter  hang  no  sine  out  in  de  winder-panes,  an' 
when  ole  Fadder  Jacob  lets  down  dat  lather  er  his'n 
you'll  be  mighty  ap'  fer  ter  hear  de  racket.  An'  don't 
you  bodder  wid  jedgment-day.  Jedgment-day  is 
lierbul  fer  ter  take  keer  un  itse'f." 

"Dat's  so,  Brer  Remus." 

'"Hit's  bleedzed  ter  be  so,  Brer  Ab.  Hit  don't 
bodder  me.  Hit's  done  got  so  now  dat  w'en  I  gotter 
pone  er  bread,  an'  a  rasher  er  bacon,  an'  nuff  grease 
fer  ter  make  gravy,  I  ain't  keerin'  much  w'edder  fokes 
sees  ghos'es  er  no." 

xrv 
THAT  DECEITFUL  JUG 

UNCLE  REMUS  was  in  good  humor  one  evening 
recently  when  he  dropped  casually  into  the  editorial 


250  HIS  SAYINGS 

room  of  "The  Constitution,"  as  has  been  his  custom 
for  the  past  year  or  two.  He  had  a  bag  slung  across 
his  shoulder,  and  in  the  bag  was  a  jug.  The  presence 
of  this  humble  but  useful  vessel  in  Uncle  Remus's  bag 
was  made  the  occasion  for  several  suggestive  jokes  at 
his  expense  by  the  members  of  the  staff,  but  the  old 
man's  good  humor  was  proof  against  all  insinuations. 

"Dat  ar  jug's  bin  ter  wah,  mon.  Hit's  wunner  deze 
yer  ole  timers.  I  got  dat  jug  down  dar  in  Putmon 
County  w'en  Mars  'Lisha  Ferryman  wuz  a  young 
man,  an'  now  he's  done  growed  up,  an'  got  ole  an' 
died,  an'  his  chilluns  is  growed  up  an'  dey  kin  count 
dere  gran'chilluns,  an'  yit  dar's  dat  jug  des  ez  lively 
an*  ez  lierbul  fer  ter  kick  up  devilment  ez  w'at  she 
wuz  w'en  she  come  fum  de  foundry." 

"That's  the  trouble,"  said  one  of  the  young  men. 
"That's  the  reason  we'd  like  to  know  what's  in  it 


now." 


"Now  youer  gittin'  on  ma'shy  groun',"  replied 
Uncle  Remus.  "Dat's  de  p'int.  Dat's  w'at  make  me 
say  w'at  I  duz.  I  bin  knowin'  dat  jug  now  gwine  on 
sixty-fi'  year,  an'  de  jug  w'at's  more  seetful  dan  dat 
jug  ain't  on  de  topside  er  de  worrul.  Dar  she  sets," 
continued  the  old  man,  gazing  at  it  reflectively,  "dar 
she  sets  dez  ez  natchul  ez  er  ambertype,  an*  yit 
whar's  de  man  w'at  kin  tell  w'at  kinder  confab  she's  a 
gwineter  carry  on  w'en  dat  corn-cob  is  snatched 
outen  'er  mouf ?  Dat  jug  is  mighty  seetful,  mon." 


THAT  DECEITFUL  JUG  251 

"Well,  it  don't  deceive  any  of  us  up  here,"  re 
marked  the  agricultural  editor,  dryly.  "We've  seen 
jugs  before." 

"I  boun'  you  is,  boss;  I  boun'  you  is.  But  you 
ain't  seed  no  seetful  jug  like  dat.  Dar  she  sets  a 
bellyin'  out  an'  lookin'  mighty  fat  an'  full,  an'  yit  she'd 
set  dar  a  bellyin'  out  ef  dere  wuzent  nuthin'  but  win' 
under  dat  stopper.  You  knows  dat  she  ain't  got  no 
aigs  in  her,  ner  no  bacon,  ner  no  grits,  ner  no  termar- 
tusses,  ner  no  shellotes,  an'  dat's  *bout  all  you  duz 
know.  Dog  my  cats  ef  de  seetfulness  er  dat  jug  don't 
git  away  wid  me,"  continued  Uncle  Remus,  with  a 
chuckle.  "I  wuz  comin'  'cross  de  bridge  des  now, 
an'  Brer  John  Henry  seed  me  wid  de  bag  slung 
onter  my  back,  an'  de  jug  in  it,  an'  he  ups  an'  sez, 
sezee: 

"  'Heyo,  Brer  Remus,  ain't  it  gittin'  late  for  water- 
millions?' 

"Hit  wuz  de  seetfulness  er  dat  jug.  If  Brer  John 
Henry  know'd  de  color  er  dat  watermillion,  I  speck 
he'd  snatch  me  up  'fo'  de  confunce.  I  'clar'  ter  grashus 
ef  dat  jug  ain't  a  caution!" 

"I  suppose  it's  full  of  molasses  now,"  remarked  one 
of  the  young  men,  sarcastically. 

"Hear  dat!"  exclaimed  Uncle  Remus,  triumphantly 
— "hear  dat!  W'at  I  tell  you?  I  sed  dat  jug  wuz 
seetful,  an'  I  sticks  to  it.  I  bin  knowin'  dat—" 


252  HIS   SAYINGS 

"What  has  it  got  in  it?"  broke  in  some  one;  "mo 
lasses,  kerosene,  or  train-oil?" 

"Well,  I  lay  she's  loaded,  boss.  I  ain't  shuk  her  up 
sence  I  drapt  in,  but  I  lay  she's  loaded." 

"Yes,"  said  the  agricultural  editor,  "and  it's  the  mean 
est  bug-juice  in  town— regular  sorghum  skimmings." 

"Dat's  needer  yer  ner  dar,"  responded  Uncle  Re 
mus.  "Po'  fokes  better  be  fixin'  up  for  Chrismus  now 
w'ile  rashuns  is  cheap.  Dat's  me.  Wen  I  year  Miss 
Sally  gwine  'bout  de  house  w'isslin'  Wen  I  k'n  Read 
my  Titles  Cler'— an*  w'en  I  see  de  martins  swawmin' 
atter  sundown— an*  w'en  I  year  de  peckerwoods  con- 
fabbin'  togedder  dese  moonshiny  nights  in  my  een'  er 
town— den  I  knows  de  hot  wedder's  a  breakin'  up,  an* 
I  know  it's  'bout  time  fer  po'  fokes  fer  ter  be  rastlin 
'roun'  and  huntin'  up  dere  rashuns.  Dat's  me,  up  an' 
down." 

"Well,  we  are  satisfied.  Better  go  and  hire  a  hall," 
remarked  the  sporting  editor,  with  a  yawn.  "If  you 
are  engaged  in  a  talking  match  you  have  won  the 
money.  Blanket  him  somebody,  and  take  him  to  the 
stable." 

"An'  w'at's  mo',"  continued  the  old  man,  scorning 
to  notice  the  insinuation,  "dough  I  year  Miss  Sally 
w'isslin',  an'  de  peckerwoods  a  chatterin',  I  ain't  seein' 
none  er  deze  yer  loafin'  niggers  fixin'  up  fer  ter 
'migrate.  Dey  kin  holler  Kansas  all  'roun'  de  naber- 
hood,  but  ceppin'  a  man  come  'long  an'  spell  it  wid 


THAT  DECEITFUL  JUG 


253 


greenbacks,  he  don't  ketch  none  er  deze  yer  town 
niggers.  You  year  me,  dey  ain't  gwine." 

"Stand  him  up  on  the  table,"  said  the  sporting 
editor;  "give  him  room." 

"Better  go  down  yer  ter  de  calaboose,  an'  git  some 
news  fer  ter  print,"  said  Uncle  Remus,  with  a  touch 


of  irony  in  his  tone.  "Some  new  nigger  might  er  broke 
inter  jail." 

"You  say  the  darkeys  are  not  going  to  emigrate 
this  year?"  inquired  the  agricultural  editor,  who  is 
interested  in  these  things. 

"Shoo!  dat  dey  ain't!  I  done  seed  an*  I  knows." 

"Well,  how  do  you  know?" 

"How  you  tell  w'en  crow  gwineter  light?  Niggers 
bin  prom'nadin'  by  my  house  all  dis  summer,  holdin* 


254  HIS  SAYINGS 

dere  heads  high  up  an*  de  w'ites  er  dere  eyeballs 
shinin'  in  de  sun.  Dey  wuz  too  bigitty  fer  ter  look 
over  de  gyardin'  palm's.  'Long  'bout  den  de  wedder 
wuz  fetchin*  de  nat'al  sperrits  er  turkentime  outen 
de  pine-trees  an'  de  groun'  wuz  fa'rly  smokin'  wid  de 
hotness.  Now  that  it's  gittin*  sorter  airish  in  de 
mornin's,  dey  don't  'pear  like  de  same  niggers.  Dey 
done  got  so  dey '11  look  over  in  de  yard,  an'  nex'  news 
you  know  dell  be  tryin'  fer  ter  scrape  up  'quaintence 
wid  de  dog.  Wen  dey  passes  now  dey  looks  at  de 
chicken-coop  an'  at  der  tater-patch.  Wen  you  see 
niggers  gittin'  dat  familious,  you  kin  'pen'  on  dere 
campin'  wid  you  de  ballunce  er  de  season.  Day  'fo* 
yistiddy  I  kotch  one  un  urn  lookin'  over  de  fence  at 
my  shoats,  an'  I  sez,  sez  I: 

"  'Duz  you  wanter  purchis  dem  hogs?' 

"'Oh,  no,'  sezee,  1  wuz  des  lookin'  at  dere 
p'ints.' 

"Well,  dey  ain't  p'intin'  yo'  way,'  sez  I,  *an?, 
fuddermo',  ef  you  don't  bodder  longer  dem  hogs  dey 
ain't  gwineter  clime  outer  dat  pen  an'  'tack  you, 
nudder,'  sez  I. 

"An'  I  boun',"  continued  Uncle  Remus,  driving  the 
corn-cob  stopper  a  little  tighter  in  his  deceitful  jug 
and  gathering  up  his  bag— "an'  I  boun'  dat  my  ole 
muskit'll  go  off  'tween  me  an'  dat  same  nigger  yit, 
an'  he'll  be  at  de  bad  een',  an'  dis  seetful  jug'll  'fuse 
ter  go  ter  de  funer'l." 


THE  FLORIDA  WATERMELON  255 


XV 

THE  FLORIDA  WATERMELON 

"LOOK  yer,  boy,"  said  Uncle  Remus  yesterday, 
stopping  near  the  railroad  crossing  on  Whitehall 
Street,  and  gazing  ferociously  at  a  small  colored 
youth;  'look  yer,  boy,  111  lay  you  out  flat  ef  you  come 
flingin'  yo'  water-million  rimes  under  my  foot— you 
watch  ef  I  don't.  You  k'n  play  yo*  pranks  on  deze  yer 
w'ite  fokes,  but  w'en  you  come  a  cuttin'  up  yo'  capers 
roun'  me  youll  Ian'  right  in  de  middle  uv  er  spell  er 
sickness— now  you  mine  w'at  I  tell  you.  An'  I  ain't 
gwine  fer  ter  put  up  wid  none  er  yo'  sassness  nudder 
—let  lone  flingin'  watermillion  rimes  whar  I  kin  git 
mixt  up  wid  um.  I  done  had  miff  watermillions  yis- 
tiddy  an'  de  day  befo'." 

"How  was  that,  Uncle  Remus?"  asked  a  gentleman 
standing  near. 

"Hit  wuz  sorter  like  dis,  boss.  Las'  Chuseday,  Mars 
]ohn  he  fotch  home  two  er  deze  yer  Flurridy  water- 
millions,  an  him  an'  Miss  Sally  sot  down  fer  ter  eat 
um.  Mars  John  an'  Miss  Sally  ain't  got  nuthin'  dat's 
too  good  fer  me,  an'  de  fus  news  I  know'd  Miss  Sally 
wuz  a  hollerin'  fer  Remus.  I  done  smelt  de  water- 
million  on  de  a'r,  an'  I  ain't  got  no  better  sense  dan 
fer  ter  go  w'en  I  years  w'ite  fokes  a  hollerin'— I  larnt 


256 


HIS   SAYINGS 


dat  w'en  I  wa'n't  so  high.  LeasVays  I  galloped  up 
ter  de  back  po'ch,  an'  dar  sot  de  watermillions  dez 
ez  natchul  ez  ef  dey'd  er  bin  raised  on  de  ole  Spivey 
place  in  Putmon  County.  Den  Miss  Sally,  she  cut  me 
off  er  slishe— wunner  deze  yer  ongodly  slishes,  big  ez 
yo'  hat,  an*  I  sot  down  on  de  steps  an'  wrop  myse'f 
roun'  de  whole  blessid  chunk,  'cepin'  de  rime"  Uncle 
Remus  paused  and  laid  his  hand  upon  his  stomach  as 
tf  feeling  for  something. 

"Well,  old  man,  what  then?" 


"Dat's  w'at  I'm  a  gittin'  at,  boss,"  said  Uncle  Re 
mus,  smiling  a  feeble  smile.  "I  santered  roun'  'bout 
er  half  nour,  an'  den  I  begin  fer  ter  feel  sorter 


'An'  I  sot  down  an'  wrop  myse'f  roun'  de  whole  blessid  chunk 


UNCLE  REMUS  PREACHES  TO  A  CONVERT    257 

squeemish— sorter  like  I  done  bin  an*  swoller'd  T>out 
fo'  poun's  offn  de  ruff  een'  uv  er  ccantlin'.  Look  like 
ter  me  dat  I  wuz  gwineter  be  sick,  an'  den  hit  look 
like  I  wuzent.  Bimeby  a  little  pain  showed  'is  head 
an*  sorter  m'andered  roun'  like  ho  wuz  a  lookin'  fer 
a  good  place  fer  ter  ketch  holt,  an'  den  a  great  big 
pain  jump  up  an'  take  atter  de  little  one  an?  chase 
'im  'roun'  an'  'roun,'  an'  he  mus'  er  kotch  'im,  kazo 
bimeby  de  big  pain  retch  down  an'  grab  dis  yer  lef 
leg—so—an'  haul  'im  up,  an'  den  he  retch  down  an 
grab  de  udder  one  an'  pull  him  up,  an'  den  de  wal 
begun,  sho  nuff.  Fer  mighty  nigh  fo'  hours  dey  kep 
up  dat  racket,  an'  des  ez  soon  ez  a  little  pain  ?ud 
jump  up  de  big  un  'ud  light  onter  it  an*  gobble  it  up, 
an'  den  de  big  un  'ud  go  sailin'  roun'  huntin'  fer  mo'. 
Some  fokes  is  mighty  cu'us,  dough.  Nex'  mornin'  I 
hear  Miss  Sally  a  laughin',  an'  singin'  an'  a  w'isslin' 
des  like  dey  want  no  watermillions  raise  in  Flurridy 
But  somebody  better  pen  dis  yer  nigger  boy  up  w'eii 
I'm  on  de  town— I  kin  tell  you  dat." 

XVI 
UNCLE  REMUS  PREACHES  TO  A  CONVERT 

"DEY  tells  me  you  done  jine  de  chu'ch,"  said  Uncie 
Remus  to  Pegleg  Charley. 

"Yes,  sir,"  responded  Charley,  gravely,  "dat's  so.""' 
"Well,  I'm  mighty  glad  er  dat,"  remarked  Uncle 


258 


HIS   SAYINGS 


Remus,  with  unction.  "It's  *bout  time  dat  I  wuz 
spectin'  fer  ter  hear  UR  you  in  de  chain-gang,  an', 
stidder  dat,  hit's  de  chu'ch.  We]l,  dey  ain't  no  tellin* 
deze  days  whar  a  nigger's  gwineter  Ian'." 

"Yes,"  responded  Charley,  straightening  himself 
up  and  speaking  in  a  dignified  tone,  "yes,  I'm  fixin* 
to  do  better.  I'm  preparin'  fer  to  shake  worldliness. 
I'm  done  quit  so'shatin'  wid  deze  w'ite  town  boys. 
Dey've  been  a  goin'  back  on 
me  too  rapidly  here  lately,  an* 
now  I'm  a  goin'  back  on  dem." 
"Well,  ef  you  done  had  de 
speunce  un  it,  I'm  mighty 
glad.  Ef  you  got  'lijjun,  you 
better  hole  on  to  it  'twell  de 
las'  day  in  de  mornin'.  Hit's 
mighty  good  fer  ter  kyar' 
'roun'  wid  you  in  de  day  time 
an'  likewise  in  de  night  time. 
Hit'll  pay  you  mo'  dan  politics, 
an'  ef  you  Stan's  up  like  you 
oughter,  hit'll  las'  longer  dan 
a  bone-fellum.  But  you  wanter 
have  one  er  deze  yer  ole-time 
grips,  an'  you  des  gotter  shet  yo'  eyes  an'  swing  on 
like  wunner  deze  yer  bull-tarrier  dogs." 

"Oh,  I'm  goin'  to  stick,  Uncle  Remus.  You  kin 
put  your  money  on  dat.  Deze  town  boys  can't  play  no 


AS  TO  EDUCATION  259 

more  uv  dere  games  on  me.  I'm  fixed.  Can't  you  lend 
me  a  dime,  Uncle  Remus,  to  buy  me  a  pie?  I'm  dat 
hongry  dat  my  stomach  is  gittin'  ready  to  go  in 
mo'nin." 

Uncle  Remus  eyed  Charley  curiously  a  moment, 
while  the  latter  looked  quietly  at  his  timber  toe. 
Finally,  the  old  man  sighed  and  spoke: 

"How  long  is  you  bin  in  de  chu'ch,  son?" 

"Mighty  near  a  week,"  replied  Charley. 

"Well,  lemme  tell  you  dis,  now,  'fo'  you  go  enny 
fudder.  You  ain't  bin  in  dar  long  nuff  fer  ter  go  'roun" 
takin  up  conterbutions.  Wait  ontwell  you  gits  sortei 
seasoned  like,  an*  den  I'll  hunt  'roun'  in  my  cloze 
an'  see  ef  I  can't  run  out  a  thrip  er  two  fer  you.  But 
don't  you  levy  taxes  too  early." 

Charley  laughed,  and  said  he  would  let  the  old 
man  off  if  he  would  treat  to  a  watermelon. 


XVII 
AS  TO  EDUCATION 

As  Uncle  Remus  came  up  Whitehall  Street  re 
cently,  he  met  a  little  colored  boy  carrying  a  slate 
and  a  number  of  books.  Some  words  passed  between 
them,  but  their  exact  purport  will  probably  never 
be  known.  They  were  unpleasant,  for  the  attention 
of  a  wandering  policeman  was  called  to  the  matter 
by  hearing  the  old  man  bawl  out: 


260 


HIS   SAYINGS 


"Don't  you  come  foolin'  longer  me,  nigger.  Youei 
flippin'  yo'  sass  at  de  wrong  color.  You  k'n  go  rouii' 

yer  an'  sass  deze  w'ite  people, 
an'  maybe  deyll  stan'  it,  but 
w'en  you  come  a  slingin'  yo' 
jaw  at  a  man  w'at  wuz  gray 
w'en  de  fahmin'  days  gin  out, 
you  better  go  an'  git  yo'  hide 
greased." 

"What's    the   matter,    old 
man?"  asked  a  sympathizing 
^v  policeman. 

"Nothin',  boss,  'ceppin  I 
ain't  gwineter  hav*  no  nigger  chillun  a  hoopin'  an'  a 
hollerin'  at  me  w'en  I'm  gwine  'long  de  streets." 

"Oh,  well,  school-children— you  know  how  they 
are." 

"Dat's  w'at  make  I  say  w'at  I  duz.  Dey  better  be 
home  pickin'  up  chips.  W'at  a  nigger  gwineter  1'arn 
outen  books?  I  kin  take  a  barl  stave  an'  fling  mo' 
sense  inter  a  nigger  in  one  minnit  dan  all  de  school- 
houses  betwixt  dis  en  de  State  er  Midgigin.  Don't 
talk,  honey!  Wid  one  bar'l  stave  I  kin  fa'rly  lif  de 
vail  er  ignunce." 

"Then  you  don't  believe  in  education?" 
"Hit's  de  ruinashun  er  dis  country.  Look  at  my  gal. 
De  ole  'oman  sont  'er  ter  school  las'  year,  an'  now  we 
dassent  hardly  ax  'er  fer  ter  kyar  de  washin'  home. 


A  TEMPERANCE  REFORMER  26} 

She  done  got  beyant  'er  bizness.  I  ain't  larnt  nuthin* 
in  books,  'en  yit  I  kin  count  all  de  money  I  gits.  No 
use  talkin',  boss.  Put  a  spellin'-book  in  a  nigger's 
ban's,  en  right  den  en  dar'  you  loozes  a  plow-hand.  I 
done  had  de  speunce  un  it" 


xvm 
A  TEMPERANCE  REFORMER 

"¥ER  come  Uncle  Remus,"  said  a  well-dressed 
negro,  who  was  standing  on  the  sidewalk  near  James's 
bank  recently,  talking  to  a  crowd  of  barbers.  "Yei 
come  Uncle  Remus.  I  boun'  he'll  sign  it." 

"You'll  fling  yo'  money  away 
ef  you  bet  on  it,"  responded 
Uncle  Remus.  "I  ain't  turnin* 
nothin'  loose  on  chu'ch  'scrip- 
tions.  I  wants  money  right  now 
fer  ter  git  a  pint  er  meal." 

"Taint  dat." 

"An'  I  ain't  heppin  fer  ter 
berry  nobody.  Much's  I  kin  do 
ter  keep  de  bref  in  my  own 
body." 

"'Tain?tdat,nudder." 

"An'  I  ain't  puttin'  my  han' 
ter  no  reckommends.  I'm  fear'd' 


C82  HIS  SAYINGS 

fer  ter  say  a  perlite  wud  T)out  myself,  an*  I  des  know 
I  ain't  gwine  'roun'  flatter'n  up  deze  udder  niggers." 

"An*  'tain't  dat,"  responded  the  darkey,  who  held 
a  paper  in  his  hand.  "We  er  gittin'  up  a  Good  Tem- 
peler's  lodge,  an'  we  like  ter  git  yo'  name." 

"Eh-eh,  honey!  I  done  see  too  much  er  dis  nigger 
tempunce.  Dey  stan'  up  mighty  squar'  ontwell  dere 
dues  commence  ter  cramp  um,  an*  dey  don't  stan'  de 
racket  wuf  a  durn.  No  longer'n  yistiddy  I  seed  one  er 
de  head  men  er  one  er  dese  Tempeler's  s'cieties  totin 
water  fer  a  bar-room.  He  had  de  water  in  a  bucket, 
but  dey  ain't  no  tellin'  how  much  red  licker  he  wuz  a 
totin'.  G'long,  chile— jine  yo'  s'ciety  an'  be  good  ter 
yo'se'f .  I'm  a  gittin'  too  ole.  Gimme  th'ee  er  fo'  drams 
endurin'  er  de  day,  an*  I'm  mighty  nigh  ez  good  a 
tempunce  man  ez  de  next  un.  I  got  ter  scuffle  fer 
sump'n  t'eat." 


XIX 
AS  A  WEATHER  PROPHET 

UNCLE  REMUS  was  enlightening  a  crowd  of  negroes 
at  the  car-shed  yesterday. 

"Dar  ain't  nuthin',"  said  the  old  man,  shaking  his 
head  pensively,  "dat  ain't  got  no  change  wrote  on  it. 
Dar  ain't  nothin  dat  ain't  spotted  befo'  hit  begins  fer 
ter  commence.  We  all  speunces  dat  p'overdence  w'at 


AS  A  WEATHER  PROPHET  263 

lifts  us  up  fum  one  place  an'  sets  us  down  in  de 
udder.  Hit's  continerly  a  movin'  an*  a  movin'." 

"Dat's  so!"  "Youer  talkin'  now!"  came  from  several 
of  his  hearers. 

"I  year  Miss  Sally  readin*  dis  mawnin,"  continued 
the  old  man,  "dat  a  man  wuz  comin'  down  yer  fer  ter 
take  keer  er  de  wedder— wunner  deze  yer  Euro  mens 
w'at  goes  'roun*  a  puttin'  up  an'  pullin'  down." 

"W'at  he  gwine  do  'roun'  yer?"  asked  one. 

"He's  a  gwineter  rege 
late  de  wedder,"  replied 
Uncle  Remus,  senten- 
tiously.  "He's  a  gwineter 
fix  hit  up  so  dat  dere 
won't  be  so  much  worri- 
ment  'mong  de  w'ite 
fokes  'bout  de  kinder 
wedder  w'at  falls  to 
dere  lot." 

"He   gwine  dish  em 

up,"  suggested  one  of  the  older  ones  'like  man  dish 
out  sugar." 

"No,"  answered  Uncle  Remus,  mopping  his  benign 
features  with  a  very  large  and  very  red  bandana, 
"He's  a  gwineter  fix  um  better'n  dat.  He's  a  gwineter 
fix  um  up  so  you  kin  have  any  kinder  wedder  w'at 
you  want  widout  totin'  her  home." 

"How's  dat?"  asked  some  one. 


264  HIS  SAYINGS 

"Hit's  dis  way,"  said  the  old  man,  thoughtfully. 
"In  co'se  you  knows  w'at  kinder  wedder  you  wants. 
Well,  den,  w'en  de  man  comes  long,  w'ich  Miss  Sally 
say  he  will,  you  des  gotter  go  up  dar,  pick  out  yo' 
wedder  an'  dere'll  be  a  clock  sot  f er  ter  suit  yo'  case, 
an'  w'en  you  git  home,  dere'll  be  yo'  wedder  a  settin' 
out  in  de  yard  waitin'  fer  you.  I  wish  he  wuz  yer 
now,"  the  old  man  continued.  Td  take  a  p'ar  er 
frosts  in  mine,  ef  I  kotched  cold  fer  it.  Dat's  me!" 

There  were  various  exclamations  of  assent,  and 
the  old  man  went  on  his  way  singing,  "Don't  you 
Grieve  Atter  Me." 


xx 

THE  OLD  MAN'S  TROUBLES 

"WHAT  makes  you  look  so  lonesome,  Brer  Remus?" 
asked  a  well-dressed  negro,  as  the  old  man  came 
shuffling  down  the  street  by  James's  corner  yester 
day. 

"Youer  mighty  right,  I'm  lonesome,  Brer  John 
Henry.  W'en  a  ole  nigger  like  me  is  gotter  paddle 
de  canoe  an'  do  de  fishin'  at  de  same  time,  an'  w'en 
you  bleedzd  ter  ketch  de  fish  an'  dassent  turn  de 
paddle  loose  fer  ter  bait  de  hook,  den  I  tell  you,  Brer 
John,  youer  right  whar  de  mink  had  de  goslin'.  Mars 
John  and  Miss  Sally,  dey  done  bin  gone  down  unto 
Putmon  County  fer  ter  see  der  kinfolks  mighty  nigh 


THE  OLD  MAN'S   TROUBLES 


265 


fo'  days,  an'  you  better  b'leeve  I  done  bin  had  ter 
scratch  'roun'  mighty  lively  fer  ter  make  de  rashuns 
run  out  even." 

"I  wuz  at  yo'  house  las'  night,  Brer  Remus,"  re 
marked  Brer  John  Henry,  "but  I  couldn't  roust  you 
outer  bed." 

"Hit  was  de  unseasonableness  er  de  hour,  I  speck," 
said  Uncle  Remus,  dryly. 
"'Pears  unto  me  dat  you  all 
chu'ch  deacons  settin'  up 
mighty  late  deze  cole  nights. 
You'll  be  slippin'  round  arter 
hours  some  time  er  nudder, 
an'  you'll  slip  bodaciously  in 
ter  de  calaboose.  You  mine 
w'at  I  tell  you. 

"It's  mighty  cole  wedder," 
said  Brer  John  Henry,  evi 
dently  wishing  to  change  the 
subject. 

"Cole!"  exclaimed  Uncle  Remus;  "hit  got  pas'  cole 
on  der  quarter  stretch.  You  oughter  come  to  my  house 
night  'fo'  las'.  Den  you'd  a  foun'  me  'live  an'  kickinY' 

"How's  dat?" 

"Well,  I  tell  you,  Brer  John  Henry,  de  cole  wuz  so 
cole,  an'  de  kiver  wuz  so  light,  dat  I  thunk  I'd  make  a 
raid  on  Mars  John's  shingle  pile,  an'  out  I  goes  an* 
totes  in  a  whole  armful.  Den  I  gits  under  de  kiver  an* 


266  ms  SAYINGS 

tells  my  ole  'oman  fer  ter  lay  'em  onto  me  like  she  was 
roofin'  a  house.  Bimeby  she  crawls  in,  an'  de  shingles 
w'at  she  put  on  her  side  fer  ter  kiver  wid,  dey  all  drap 
off  on  de  flo'.  Den  up  I  gits  an'  piles  'em  on  agin,  an* 
w'en  I  gits  in  bed  my  shingles  draps  off,  an'  dat's  de 
way  it  wuz  de  whole  blessid  night.  Fus'  it  wuz  me  up 
an'  den  de  ole  'oman,  an'  it  kep'  us  pow'ful  warm,  too, 
dat  kinder  exercise.  Oh,  you  oughter  drapt  roun'  'bout 

dat  time,  Brer  John  Henry.  You'd  a  year'd  sho'  miff 

.  >i» 
cussin  I 

"You  don't  tell  me,  Brer  Remus!" 

"My  ole  'oman  say  de  Ole  Boy  wouldn't  a  foun'  a 
riper  nigger,  ef  he  wer'  ter  scour  de  country  fum  Fer- 
ginny  ter  de  Alabaml" 


XXI 
THE  FOURTH  OF  JULY 

UNCLE  REMUS  made  his  appearance  recently  with 
his  right  arm  in  a  sling  and  his  head  bandaged  to 
that  extent  that  it  looked  like  the  stick  made  to 
accompany  the  Centennial  bass-drum.  The  old  man 
evidently  expected  an  attack  all  around,  for  he  was 
rnusually  quiet,  and  fumbled  in  his  pockets  in  an 
embarrassed  manner.  He  was  not  mistaken.  The 
agricultural  editor  was  the  first  to  open  fire: 

"Well.,  you  old  villain!  what  have  you  been  up  to 
now?" 


THE  FOURTH  OF  JULY  267 

"It  is  really  singular,"  remarked  a  commencement 
orator,  "that  not  even  an  ordinary  holiday— a  holiday, 
it  seems  to  me,  that  ought  to  arouse  all  the  latent  in 
stincts  of  patriotism  in  the  bosom  of  American  citi 
zens—can  occur  without  embroiling  some  of  our  most 
valuable  citizens.  It  is  really  singular  to  me  that  such 
a  day  should  be  devoted  by  a  certain  class  of  our 
population  to  broils  and  fisticuffs." 

This  final  moral  sentiment,  which  was  altogether 
an  impromptu  utterance,  and  which  was  delivered 
with  the  air  of  one  who  addresses  a  vast  but  invisible 
audience  of  young  ladies  in  white  dresses  and  blue 
sashes,  seemed  to  add  to  the  embarrassment  of  Uncle 
Remus,  and  at  the  same  time  to  make  an  explana* 
tion  necessary. 

"Dey  ain't  none  er  you  young  w'ite  men  never  had 
no  'casion  fer  ter  strike  up  wid  one  er  deze  Mobile 
niggers?"  asked  Uncle  Remus.  "  'Kaze  ef  you  iz,  den 
you  knows  wharbouts  de  devilment  come  in.  Show 
me  a  Mobile  nigger,"  continued  the  old  man,  "an* 
I'll  show  you  a  nigger  dat's  marked  for  de  chain- 
gang.  Hit  may  be  de  fote  er  de  fif  er  July,  er  hit  may 
be  de  twelf  er  Jinawerry,  but  w'en  a  Mobile  nigger 
gits  in  my  naberhood  right  den  an'  dar  trubble  sails 
in  an'  'gages  bode  fer  de  season.  I  speck  I'm  ez  fon* 
er  deze  Nunited  States  ez  de  nex'  man  w'at  knows 
dat  de  Euro  is  busted  up;  but  long  ez  Remus  kin 
stan'  on  his  hine  legs  no  Mobile  nigger  can't  flip  inter 


268  ms  SAYINGS 

dis  town  longer  no  Wes'  P'int  'schushun  an*  boss 
roun'  'mong  de  cullud  fokes.  Dat's  me,  up  an*  down, 
an'  I  boun'  dere's  a  nigger  some'rs  on  de  road  dis 
blessid  day  dat's  got  dis  put  away  in  his  'membunce." 
"How  did  he  happen  to  get  you  down  and  maul 
you  in  this  startling  manner?"  asked  the  commence 
ment  orator,  with  a  tone  of  exaggerated  sympathy  in 
his  voice. 


"Maul  who?"  exclaimed  Uncle  Remus,  indig 
nantly.  "Maul  who?  Boss,  de  nigger  dat  mauled  me 
ain't  bornded  yit,  an'  dey  er  got  ter  have  anudder 
war  'fo  one  is  bornded." 

"Well,  what  was  the  trouble?" 

"Hit  wuz  sorter  dis  way,  boss.  I  wuz  s tannin'  down 


THE  FOURTH  OF  JULY  269 

dere  by  Mars  John  Jeems's  bank,  chattin'  wid  Sis 
Tempy,  w'ich  I  ain't  seed  'er  befo'  now  gwine  on 
seven  year,  an*  watchin'  de  folks  trompin'  by,  w'en 
one  er  deze  yer  slick-lookin'  niggers,  wid  a  bee-gum 
hat  an'  a  brass  watch  ez  big  ez  de  head  uv  a  beer- 
barl,  come  long  an'  bresh  up  agin  me— so.  Dere 
wuz  two  un  um,  an*  dey  went  long  gigglin*  an' 
laffin'  like  a  nes'ful  er  yaller-hammers.  Bimeby  dey 
come  long  agin  an*  de  smart  Ellick  brush  up  by  me 
once  mo'.  Den  I  say  to  myse'f,  1  lay  I  fetch  you  ef 
you  gimme  anudder  invite.'  An',  sho'  'nuff,  yer  he 
come  agin,  an*  dis  time  he  rub  a  piece  er  watermil- 
lion  rime  under  my  lef  year." 

"What  did  you  do?" 

"Me?  I'm  a  mighty  long-sufferin'  nigger,  but  he 
hadn't  no  mo'n  totch  me  'fo'  I  flung  dese  yer  bones  in 
his  face."  Here  Uncle  Remus  held  up  his  damaged 
hand  triumphantly.  "I  sorter  sprained  my  han',  boss, 
but  dog  my  cats  if  I  don't  bleeve  I  spattered  de  nig 
ger's  eyeballs  on  de  groun',  and  w'en  he  riz  his  count'- 
nence  look  fresh  like  beef-haslett.  I  look  mighty 
spindlin'  an'  puny  now,  don't  I,  boss?"  inquired  the 
old  man,  with  great  apparent  earnestness. 

"Rather." 

"Well,  you  des  oughter  see  me  git  my  Affikin  up. 
Dey  useter  call  me  er  bad  nigger  long  'fo'  de  war,  an* 
hit  looks  like  ter  me  dat  I  gits  wuss  an'  wuss.  Brer 


270  HIS  SAYINGS 

John  Henry  say  dat  I  oughter  supdue  my  rashfulness> 
an'  I  don't  'spute  it,  but  tu'n  a  Mobile  nigger  loose 
in  dis  town,  fote  er  July  or  no  fote  er  July,  an',  me  er 

him,  one  is  got  ter  Ian'  in  jail.  Hit's  proned  inter 

» 
me. 

THE  END 


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